I had the pleasure of meeting Danielle Rauch during the 2020-2021 school year. Like many of us that met someone during that time, I met her on my screen during one of our Athletes in Action - Michigan Zoom meetings. I really liked her as she engaged in the discussions, always gave great insight, and was consistent in our monthly meetings as well as being involved in a D-Group (our small discipleship groups/bible studies) that meet weekly.
Finally, things on campus started to open up and we were able to meet LIVE in the spring of 2021 and that’s when I finally got to meet her in person. Our meetings were held outside for the spring/summer semester, holding them at Ferry Field on campus. We had snacks (of course) and played a bunch of backyard games, then a message and discussion time. It was great getting to know her that summer, just hanging out, playing games, chatting. Then in August, I moved from Ann Arbor to Allendale, MI to start Athletes in Action at Grand Valley State University.
It was so much fun watching my 2 favorite women’s basketball teams compete. They actually played an exhibition game against each other in November which, unfortunately, I wasn’t able to attend. GVSU made it to the NCAA D2 Final Four and Univ of Michigan which made it to the NCAA Elite-8.
One cool thing about my job is watching the athletes I have relationships with compete. I watch them more closely than the others. I watch how they hustle; I watch how they lead their teammates; I watch their intensity; I watch how they are on the bench – I watch everything! One athlete I loved watching was Danielle. She was “in” every aspect of every game I watched whether on the court or on the bench, she knew, as one of the captains of the team, she had to lead by example as well as lead by encouraging and challenging her teammates – and she did it well!
I had the honor of sitting with Danielle (on Zoom) while she was in her hometown of Syracuse, NY to talk about this past season, her final season as a college athlete, and the thing I love most about her, who she is off the court. She is getting ready to head to Clemson University to serve as a grad-assistant on the woman’s basketball team while she takes classes to obtain her master’s degree in athletic leadership. I am now a huge fan of Clemson ladies’ basketball.
It was so much fun talking about the 2021-2022 season with her, especially their tournament run (not the Big Ten tourney which didn’t go too well!!). We talked about how it was so cool hosting first and second round games at Crisler in Ann Arbor and how she knew that any of these games could be her last one and how that encouraged her to appreciate every one of them. The season seemed to be lining up perfectly as after their run to the Elite 8, the University of Louisville was their next opponent in the regional finals. Back on December 2, 2021, Louisville beat Michigan by 22 points; the perfect opponent to defeat to get the Final Four. Well, Louisville defeated the Wolverines, ending the greatest season in Michigan woman’s basketball history. These types of seasons are so much fun, we don’t want them to end, but they do – they always end.
It’s hard-hitting realizing you are done, you are no longer a college athlete, you no longer will wear that uniform. Please watch one of the best press conferences ever as Danielle shares her raw thoughts and emotions regarding this very idea - https://www.youtube.com/shorts/zZczxDx247Y - She talks about the impact this team made on the program and school, well Danielle, YOU made an amazing impact on this team. Danielle gets that it wasn’t about the wins, it was about the process, it was about the relationships. Wins are great and we always strive for them, but the process matters, especially HOW we do the process.
Danielle’s faith was such a huge factor in this process, realizing her identity is this – she is a beloved daughter of Christ and that never changes. When she arrived in Ann Arbor, she began to have questions regarding her faith. One day she accepted an invitation from her boyfriend to attend an Athletes in Action meeting. Learning, believing, and trusting that God’s love for us is not contingent on our athletic success, is a concept Danielle understands and applies to her life. She became a D-Group leader on her team and attended the Ultimate Training Camp where she learned how to relate and apply her faith to sport. The heart she has was taken to her team and applied in the games, on the bench, at practice, everywhere and this is why she was a captain on this team.
I asked her what she will miss outside of basketball in Ann Arbor. She didn’t hesitate to share how much she loved visiting Mott Children’s Hospital and sitting with the children that are suffering from different sicknesses and injuries. Her heart for others is incredible. One final question I asked her was “what would 2022 Danielle say to 2018 Danielle?” She shared Jesus’ words in John 13. “You don’t understand now what I am doing, but someday you will.” God is always teaching us and uses situations for our growth (especially tough situations). If we are open to Him, we will see that the process is important and glorifying God is bigger than basketball, it’s bigger than anything.
Danielle gets it, examples it, and it is evident in her life. The University of Michigan will miss Danielle Rauch.
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