Eleventh in a series of stories highlighting the academic and community achievements of Rocket student-athletes.

By Steve Easton, UToledo associate athletic communications director

TOLEDO, Ohio - Senior pitcher Erin Hunt is familiar with handling a heavy workload. The Dansville, Mich. native has been the Rockets' ace in the circle since joining the University of Toledo's softball program prior to the 2019 season.
 
Hunt played a critical role in the team's storybook finish that year, catapulting the underdog Rockets to their first Mid-American Conference tournament title ever by winning six games as the No. 7 seed. She threw 38 out of a possible 49 innings and posted a miniscule 1.66 ERA to propel Toledo to its first NCAA Championships appearance since 1992.
 
Now she is bringing that workhorse approach to the classroom as well.

"When I found out I had the chance to receive another year of eligibility last spring, I wanted to expand my options and decided to major in nursing," said Hunt, who already was majoring in biology with a pre-med concentration and minoring in chemistry. "I did that because I don't really have a backup plan if I don't get into medical school. It seemed like the right decision for me because I wanted to keep all my options open."
 
Hunt certainly has a lot of avenues available to pursue as a result of her decision, beginning with becoming a cardiothoracic surgeon. That was her primary goal coming out of high school as her graduating class' valedictorian. She was attracted to UToledo's strong science curriculum when she transferred to Toledo and followed Head Coach Joe Abraham to the Rockets' program after he was hired in the summer of 2018.
 
"Hillsdale is a very strong liberal arts college which I really enjoyed, but I really like the focus on the sciences here at Toledo," Hunt said. "I'm also able to receive a lot of hands-on learning in my classes and my professors have been very flexible when I need to miss a lab due to our games."
 
She said by adding nursing to the mix she may take the route of becoming a nurse anesthetist or possibly enter a physician assistant program. 
 
"I've always known I want to enter the health-care field," said Hunt, who holds a 3.6 grade-point average and is currently taking pre-req courses now before applying to begin nursing school next summer. "Having a nursing major gives me a lot more freedom and just another option I have in the medical field if I choose to do that rather than going to medical school."
 
Abraham believes Hunt is more than ready to tackle the challenge of a second major.
 
"Erin has a bulldog mentality and is a go-getter," Abraham said. "That's why she's been so successful as a pitcher.  She maps out her plan and then executes it.  She sets a great example in our program and for any kids following our program."
 
Hunt's approach is similar to many of her teammates, who helped the softball program register a 3.7 GPA or higher in both semesters of the 2019-20 academic year. She also has received similar support from her coaching staff and teammates within the Rockets' program.
 
"We study a lot together and really try to help each out if needed," Hunt said. "Since I'm one of the seniors majoring in a science, I get a lot of questions on classes I've taken and what they should expect. Having a lot of other players on the team with challenging majors makes it easier, because we realize the time commitment everyone is dealing with."
 
Hunt said her commitment to academics came from her parents, Don and Sandy. She has an older brother, Brad. who is also hoping to enter medical school soon after majoring in biology at Central Michigan.
 
"My parents always prioritized academics because that's what is going to help you succeed in life," she said. "I played three sports in high school, but athletics have always been on like the back burner for me. I obviously enjoy them and work hard at them, but my parents always stressed academics first. I think that's always been my mindset."
 
Abraham said he has seen Hunt take her approach to academics and expand it by becoming one of the team's leaders both on and off the field.
 
"Erin has traveled a path from being a typical freshman who needed to grow and mature to a senior who is always looking out for her teammates, her coaches and the program as a whole," the Rockets' third-year mentor said. "When you have a team culture that is healthy, the older players will naturally let the younger players know how things are done, and will make sure those players are taken care of with what they need, be it in the classroom, the locker room or on the field."
 
It's that type of approach that Hunt plans to take with her future patients, no matter what career path she follows.

Previous Stories About Academic and Community Achievements of Rocket Student-Athletes
Sept. 22 - Emma Sampson Making the Most of Her Time at Toledo
Sept. 17 - Alex Kelker Follows Fast Track to Graduate School
Sept. 15 - Spencer Littleson Using Business Classes to Prepare for Coaching Career
Sept. 10 - Ashton Cassel and Betsy Lueck Perfecting Nursing Craft with Rockets            
Sept. 4 - Chloee Kleespies is Driven to Help Other Diabetic Athletes
Sept. 1 - Stephanie Sherman Follows New Course to Surprising Career Path
Aug. 27 - Amelia Lee Programming Herself for Future Success
Aug. 25 - Competition Breeds Success for Mariah Copeland
Aug. 21 - Eileen Carney Gets Her Teeth into Student-Athlete Experience
Aug. 18 - Bryce Harris Followed His Heart to Find a Career Path