By: Erin Madden, Baldwin Wallace University
BEREA, Ohio - The Morris name runs deep through the veins of Baldwin Wallace University athletics, dating all the way back to the 1940s when George Morris played football for the Yellow Jackets. He was later enshrined in the Alumni Athletics Association Hall of Fame for his achievements. George Morris Jr. followed in his father’s footsteps when he also donned the Brown and Gold for the BW football team.
Now, Ashtyn Morris carries on the family legacy that started with her great-grandfather, all the while making a name for herself both on and off the tennis court.
As a senior on the women’s tennis team, an English major with a double minor in marketing and art history and a published author, Morris can now add Ohio Athletic Conference Scholar Athlete of the Month to her growing list of accomplishments.
“My family legacy at BW is very important to me,” Morris said. “I looked at other colleges but none of them felt like home to me. BW was the perfect fit for me; it had the right balance of academics and athletics.”
Morris has made the most of all of her opportunities while in Berea. On the court, she was recognized as an All-OAC performer in 2018-19. Off the court, she is a two-time Academic All-OAC honoree and has already made waves in the writing community after her essay on Jesmyn Ward’s novel Sing, Unburied, Sing was selected for the inaugural Anisfield-Wolf Reflection Exhibit in 2020.
“I was incredibly honored and excited to be published,” Morris said. “My academic accomplishments are just as important to me as my athletic accomplishments.”
While BW has provided the right balance of academics and athletics, Morris had to figure out that balance for herself between practices, workouts, classes, homework, internships and more.
“Some semesters are harder than others but I try my best to stay on top of things by making a daily schedule,” Morris explained. “Whenever I have the time, especially as the season starts to pick up, I try to get as many assignments done well before the due date so that I don’t get behind. I’ve also learned the importance of scheduling ‘me time’ throughout the week. Life is all about balance so scheduling time for yourself helps you from getting burnt out.”