Olympic medallist Entzminger transitions from player to mentor

Emma Entzminger mulled over a question about the most important lesson she learned from her coaches.

“It was about preparation and being ready for when your moment comes,” she said.

The Victoria softball star was just that when she brought home two runs with a crucial hit to help give Canada victory over Mexico this summer in the bronze medal game at the Tokyo Olympics.

Entzminger now wants to pass along her knowledge of softball through her newly-formed Glory organization offering training and development for club players on up to Glory travelling and rep teams in the U-13, U-15, U-17 and U-19 classifications. Entzminger will act as director of player development for Glory.

The first meeting for interested female softball players is from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. tonight at Hollywood Park in Fairfield.

“I have been through it and feel I have something to offer in terms of coaching and mentorship, where I can use my experience to help young Island players,” said Entzminger.

“I have not been home enough to do something like this before but now I have a good chunk of time ahead of me at home to become a mentor to local players.”

She was once on the other side of the equation as Entzminger came up through the Victoria Devils program and the Lambrick Park Secondary baseball/ softball academy, earning a U.S. athletic scholarship to play NCAA Div. 1 at San Jose State, where she was a standout for the Spartans over four years. That led to the Canadian national team and her eventual Olympic heroics in Tokyo.

“With Title Nine [U.S. rule guaranteeing an equal number of spots in university sports programs for male and female athletes] there is a spot for everybody, from NCAA Divisions 1, 2 and 3 to NAIA,” said Entzminger.

“I have been through it and know the system that funnels from school, club, rep team to NCAA and provincial team, junior national team and national team.”

Entzminger said she learned something from each of her coaches, from Rocky Vitale at Lambrick Park, to San Jose State, to former Victoria Senior A pitching star Mark Smith with the Canadian national team.

“They each brought their athletes to the point, through solid preparation, where you knew you were ready for it and just had to go out and perform,” said Entzminger.

“Mental performance is as important as physical performance.”