RESULT OF THE LAIR FUND

Already a star in the classroom with a 4.0 GPA and selection to both the Eastern Illinois Dean's List and Ohio Valley Conference Honor Roll, Taryn Olson is ready to expand her starring role not only on the basketball court but also in life.

Olson enters her senior year cast in the forefront of a women's basketball program that made its fourth straight post-season appearance last season but lost four senior starters.

"I played under Mariah King and Sydney Mitchell the last three years and that was big for me," said Olson on serving as a back-up behind a pair of 1,000 point scoring post players. "It was definitely a learning experience. Now this season I want to follow in their footsteps and take a leadership role for this team, much like they did for me. "

Part of that leadership role will take place for Olson under the direction of a new head coach, the third one Olson and her teammates have played for in three seasons. Debbie Black was hired in May following a career as an assistant coach at Ohio State and a successful career as a player in the WNBA.

"I think it was good timing with the new coaching staff in that this is the first summer that coaches can do summer workouts with players," said Olson. "Getting that extra time with Coach Black and Coach (Kim) Foley has really helped. Before this summer it was up to the players to get together and work out and play. So this new rule has really helped with the transition with them as coaches getting to know us a little and for the players to get to know them before we get into preseason workouts."

Discipline in getting her work done has been something ingrained in Olson since she was young as she has balanced both her academics and athletics at EIU.

"I come from a family of teachers. My mom is a teacher. My dad was a teacher before he passed away. Both of my grandparents were teachers, so I learned early on that education is key and you need to take care of what you need to do in the classroom before you focus on athletics and other activities," said the Madison, Wis., native.

While Olson wants to work with kids she doesn't necessarily see herself as that third generation of teachers. Her goal is to expand upon her recreation administration degree as she sees herself breaking that cycle of teachers but still educating and inspiring young people in different ways.

Two people who provide inspiration to Olson on a daily basis are her mother and grandmother who are regulars at EIU games both at home and on the road.

"They provide me a little extra inspiration. It feels so good to know that they are up there cheering for me and my teammates every game," Olson said. "I can hear my mom in the arena at every game so that really means a lot to me. "

Her relationship with her grandmother provides inspiration not only to Olson but to her Panther teammates as well.

"She is one of the most inspiring people in my life. She is a breast cancer survivor. The way she approaches life with her chemo treatments drives me. She is a survivor but the battle isn't over," added Olson.

One of the touching moments for Olson and her grandmother was following the annual Pink Game in Lantz Arena where the team gathered with Olson's grandmother for a photo in the locker room following the game.

"That game is one I look forward to each year. It's just an extra special game no matter how I perform knowing that we are honoring not only my grandmother but all women who have survived breast cancer," said Olson.

By the way Olson used that inspiration to pull down a career high nine rebounds in an EIU win in the Pink Game. She followed that up with a season high 11 points in the next game against Murray State with her mom and grandmother cheering from the stands.