In this heartfelt and reflective episode of Outside the Pins, we sit down with Forever Titan Izzy Coon to revisit a journey that began with a last-minute tryout and ended with 2,000 career assists and a national championship. 🏆🖤💛

From decommitting from a Division II program and questioning whether she would continue playing volleyball to becoming a trusted setter and deeply influential leader at Oshkosh, Izzy shares how persistence, presence, family, and leading with love shaped her experience. ❤️🏐

This conversation dives into:

• 🎯 Persisting when there was no guaranteed place on the roster
• 🤝 Competing for a role while still supporting and celebrating teammates
• ❤️ Navigating family adversity and showing up for teammates during difficult seasons
• 🌱 Developing an authentic leadership style rooted in empathy, positivity, and love
• 🧠 Managing postseason pressure, anxiety, and the emotional weight of wanting something deeply
• 🫂 Using connection, physical touch, and intentional interactions to help teammates reset
• 🏆 Transforming a heartbreaking Elite Eight ending into motivation for a national championship
• ✨ Being present for the bus rides, team trips, locker-room moments, and relationships that matter most

Izzy’s story is a powerful reminder that leadership does not always require a speech or a title. Sometimes it looks like a hug, a hand held between points, an encouraging word, or a teammate who consistently helps others move into a better space.

🎧 Whether you’re an athlete, coach, parent, or someone learning to navigate pressure and uncertainty, this episode will inspire you to remain present, pour into your people, and remember Izzy’s beautifully simple perspective: life is all about loving others. 💫

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In this heartfelt and emotional episode of Outside the Pins, we sit down with graduating senior Jaclyn “Jac” Dutkiewicz to reflect on a journey filled with resilience, love, growth, laughter, and ultimately a national championship. 🏆🖤💛

From navigating the challenges of balancing nursing school and collegiate volleyball to embracing every role asked of her throughout her career, Jac shares what it truly meant to “do it the right way.” ❤️🏐

This conversation dives into:

• 🩺 Balancing nursing school and college athletics
• 🌱 Persevering through adversity and uncertainty
• 🤝 The importance of team culture, support, and belonging
• 😂 Freshman-year chaos, unforgettable memories, and Green Lake stories
• 🏆 The emotional reality of winning a national championship
• ✨ Learning that impact goes far beyond statistics or playing time

Jac’s story is a powerful reminder that success is built through relationships, consistency, resilience, and showing up for others every single day. Her perspective on leadership, selflessness, and finding “your people” makes this one of the most meaningful Forever Titan conversations yet.

🎧 Whether you’re an athlete, coach, student, or simply someone navigating life’s transitions, this episode will leave you inspired to cherish the little moments and trust the process. 💫

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In this powerful and deeply reflective episode of Outside the Pins, we sit down with soon-to-be graduate Makenna Barone for a conversation about identity, resilience, growth, and discovering your worth beyond the game. 💛🖤

Mak shares her journey from a small-town athlete unsure of where she belonged to becoming a national champion, leader, and future social worker at University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh. Along the way, she opens up about overcoming multiple ACL injuries, redefining her role within the program, and learning that impact isn’t always measured by time on the court. 🏐✨

This episode dives into:

• 🌱 Personal growth through adversity
• 💭 Mental health, identity, and self-worth
• 🤝 The power of connection and team culture
• 🏆 What it truly felt like winning a national championship
• ❤️ Why “worthy” became the defining word of her journey

Filled with honesty, perspective, humor, and heart, this conversation is a reminder that some of the most meaningful victories happen internally long before they show up externally.

🎧 If there’s a little voice inside of you pulling you toward something meaningful — this episode is for you.

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