Hometown: Lawrenceville, Ga.
Class: Senior
Position: Catcher
Notes:
• Senior CLASS Award Second Team All-America (2014)
• Senior CLASS Award Finalist (2014)
• ACC Post-Graduate Scholarship Recipient (2014)
• All-ACC Academic Team (2011-13)
• All-ACC First Team (2011, 2013)

“Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us, keeping our eyes on Jesus, the source and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that lay before Him endured a cross and despised the shame and has sat down at the right hand of God’s throne.” -Hebrews 12:1-2

From an outpouring of discipleship and stretching her prayer life, Georgia Tech catcher Alysha Rudnik found her faith strengthened in communication with God and trusting His provision on and off the softball diamond.

FCA: What do you love about softball?

AR: I love competing, getting to play against another team and having the opportunity to win. And being a part of a team, you get that awesome opportunity where it’s a team sport and yet each individual has their own role. You win and lose as a team but each individual does their thing and no one can do it for you.

FCA: What did you learn in your four years of playing at Georgia Tech?

AR: I learned what it takes to work hard. Going into the program, there were a lot of really good players on the team, so for the first time I was walking into something where I wasn’t the best. In order to get better, I had to work. And I learned perseverance, because there weren’t always good times in softball, as far as wins and losses, so at times it could be draining. I had to keep fighting, not give up, and work hard even when I didn’t want to.

FCA: How have you seen your faith develop during your time at school?

AR: I grew up in a Christian home and knew everything about God and church, but once I got to school I started to have a relationship with Jesus, have a prayer life and talk to God, knowing He can talk back and if I listen, He’ll guide me.

FCA allowed me to be more involved in a community of athletes. Getting to hang out with people who are going down the same road as me—different sports, but same path—it was awesome.

FCA: How do you keep your identity from being completely wrapped up in athletics?

AR: That’s been trial and error, because there have been times where I’ve been completely wrapped up in my sport. Softball always came easy to me in high school and when I got to college I had some rough patches—it seemed like everything was going wrong. That’s when I realized there was more to faith and more important things than how I perform on the field. There were so many times when I noticed I was looking at my circumstances- if I was doing bad or good, that’s how my mood would be. But by focusing on Christ, and constantly spending time with the Lord, He showed me that He’s most important.

FCA: What’s been challenging and rewarding for you in your walk with Christ?

AR: Not understanding why certain things happen or don’t happen was challenging. Previously, I’ve always been on teams that were winning. Last year when we were having such a terrible season, there was a lot of emotional stress and people were frustrated, but it was such an opportunity to grow closer to God and depend on Him more.

I’m so thankful that I got to go to Georgia Tech and be around the people that I did. Softball has been so good to me, and God allowed me to grow with my teammates, and in relationships on and off the field with mentors pouring into me and the opportunity to pour into younger teammates.

FCA Staff Quote:

“Alysha has been the kind of player around which you want to build the culture of your team. She has been a great steward of who she is to be as a light and asset to her team, friends, and community. What has impressed me most has been how her relationship with the Lord impacts everything she does. She truly has a desire to please Him and knows He is trustworthy even beyond her preferences.”

-Marla Williams, FCA Women’s Chaplain, Georgia Tech

Originally published July 2014

Photos courtesy of Georgia Tech Sports Information