2008 Woodie Awards
Star athlete juggles marriage, friendship with classes
Renee Taylor
Staff Reporter
Issue date: 4/7/08 Section: Sports
TSU has found an awe-inspiring, multifaceted and extremely dedicated young woman in sprinter Dominique Ward Holmes of the Tigerbelles.
This season marks her fourth year with the Tigerbelles, which came with a lot more responsibility.
This season Holmes was asked to do more for her team and she delivered.
In the 2008 Ohio Valley Conference Indoor Track and Field Championships, Holmes won four gold medals in the 55 meter,200 meter, 400 meter ,the 4x400 relay and was named Female Athlete of the Championships.
With the win in the 200 and 400,0 Ward became only the third female to OVC history to achieve that accomplishment. She also named by the conference the Female Track Athlete of the Year.
"Dominique is a hard worker," said head track coach Chandra Chesseborough. "She brings a lot to the able for this team; she is very focused and determined young lady."
Holmes is unlike most college students and starts her day at 5 a.m. when she wakes up. Before going to class, she goes to weight training sessions and after class goes to practice.
Holmes also finds time for her best friend, Franz, who just so happen to be her husband. Franz and Dominique met in the weight room and after only really being a couple for three months they tied the knot on March 3, 2007.
"It seemed like it was destined to happen," Franz Holmes said. "We both run the same event, the 200 and the 400. We are both captains for our team and I'm a Sigma and she is a Zeta."
Holmes admitted it was difficult to be a student athlete. She said she would not encourage anyone to ventue into that world unless he or she is willing to be completely dedicated.
She also reminded her peers that school comes first and if one can overcome the obstacles of fatigue and time management, then being a student athlete is definitely plausible.
Holmes has dreams on going to the 2008 Olympics games.
She is in training at this very moment and expecting to go to the next level. She said her most enthusiastic cheerleader is her husband, and with insight from her coach she knows that she can achieve her highest goal.
"Just because you are from a small school does not mean that you won't make it to the next level," Chesseeborough said .
"Everyone puts their pants on the same."
Holmes would like to the TSU family to remember her as a hard worker who never gave, was humble and a very hungry woman.
She vehemently believes that no matter what, it is possible to attain one's dream.
A saying that that her husband recites incessantly motivates her: Hard work beats talent that doesn't work.•
This season marks her fourth year with the Tigerbelles, which came with a lot more responsibility.
This season Holmes was asked to do more for her team and she delivered.
In the 2008 Ohio Valley Conference Indoor Track and Field Championships, Holmes won four gold medals in the 55 meter,200 meter, 400 meter ,the 4x400 relay and was named Female Athlete of the Championships.
With the win in the 200 and 400,0 Ward became only the third female to OVC history to achieve that accomplishment. She also named by the conference the Female Track Athlete of the Year.
"Dominique is a hard worker," said head track coach Chandra Chesseborough. "She brings a lot to the able for this team; she is very focused and determined young lady."
Holmes is unlike most college students and starts her day at 5 a.m. when she wakes up. Before going to class, she goes to weight training sessions and after class goes to practice.
Holmes also finds time for her best friend, Franz, who just so happen to be her husband. Franz and Dominique met in the weight room and after only really being a couple for three months they tied the knot on March 3, 2007.
"It seemed like it was destined to happen," Franz Holmes said. "We both run the same event, the 200 and the 400. We are both captains for our team and I'm a Sigma and she is a Zeta."
Holmes admitted it was difficult to be a student athlete. She said she would not encourage anyone to ventue into that world unless he or she is willing to be completely dedicated.
She also reminded her peers that school comes first and if one can overcome the obstacles of fatigue and time management, then being a student athlete is definitely plausible.
Holmes has dreams on going to the 2008 Olympics games.
She is in training at this very moment and expecting to go to the next level. She said her most enthusiastic cheerleader is her husband, and with insight from her coach she knows that she can achieve her highest goal.
"Just because you are from a small school does not mean that you won't make it to the next level," Chesseeborough said .
"Everyone puts their pants on the same."
Holmes would like to the TSU family to remember her as a hard worker who never gave, was humble and a very hungry woman.
She vehemently believes that no matter what, it is possible to attain one's dream.
A saying that that her husband recites incessantly motivates her: Hard work beats talent that doesn't work.•
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