Ashley Caswell felt right at home her first visit to Viterbo. But it wasn’t the nursing program which convinced Caswell, senior, to commit the Viterbo—but the community created here. Viterbo has five core values, but Caswell pointed to hospitality and service as the two that shine brightest throughout our campus. “The people on campus really embodied those values and that made it feel like home,” Caswell said.
On the subject of track, Caswell reflected on how unsure she was, since there was no coach when she joined fall of 2017. This made her transition a lot harder given her uncertainty as to if she was going to keep doing track.
The thing that kept her focused on the track team was the coaching staff who, now were under the control of Chase Thomson, helped her make an easy transition. But even still Caswell says the core values on the team stood out and made it so much easier to continue.
Staying on the track team, however, proved to be a good decision for Caswell. In her first indoor season she went on to shatter conference records for the 60-meter dash and long jump. In her outdoor season, she continued break conference records for the 100- and 200-meter dash. These performances made her one of the best first-year students in the country. Even with all this success, Caswell said she only wanted to work harder to help her team succeed.
In her second year, Caswell was a standout student-athlete. She was awarded the title ‘North-star scholar athlete of the year’ and named to the academic all-district team. In her indoor season, Caswell continued to destroy her competition and shatter her aforementioned 60-meter record; then, conquer the 200-meter record. These performances were enough to qualify Caswell for nationals. Outdoor, she once again topled her own records and was named track athlete of the meet.
Much to Caswell’s surprise, she was awarded the title Midwest Track Athlete of the Year. “There are so many great athletes in the Midwest and to be chosen for such an award was such a huge honor,” Caswell said.
Her third year, she continued her sweep during indoor, once again breaking her conference records. This time, unfortunately, many people on her team admitted Caswell was snubbed for Track Athlete of the Meet, but Caswell never saw this as a problem. She was solely focused on the team’s success. Contrary to her coach and team’s frustrations, Caswell was just grateful to even be at the meet.
When asked if there was anything left for her to accomplish in her decorated track career, Caswell stated she “has accomplished everything. The people I compete with, I could not ask for more than the people I have spent these four years with.” Though Caswell feels this way, she still expects herself and her team to go out compete for outdoor, because the job is not done yet.
Already this year, Caswell’s final year, she has been able to take home two conference titles in the 60- and 200-meter dash. Ever since Caswell has competed here, she has never lost a 60-meter dash at the conference level. Outdoor, currently, she is undefeated in the 100- and 200-meter dash.
Through all the success she has endured she continues to thank the Viterbo community for the experience they have given her. She reminded us, “If you are not enjoying the moment and the people around you then you are missing out. It’s how you treat others that matters, that is what Viterbo has taught me.” With just one season left Caswell has 12 Viterbo records, which she plans to add to her long list of accolades.
