Rice Memories: Mary Claire Danilevics
9/8/2020 10:21:00 AM | Women's Soccer, Blog
"Luckily I am still involved in sports, so I have been thankful to keep that part of me alive," Danilevics said. "Thanks to one of my favorite Sports Management teachers, Tom Stallings, I have been working for the past two years in Arizona at bluemedia. I never thought I would be in the signage industry, but it has been incredible to see how businesses are marketed on the front end. I primarily work on large events/sports such as Fiesta Bowl, CA Grand Invitational, FOX Sports, and the Arizona Cardinals. The greatest experience so far was attending the Super Bowl LIV last year in Miami! We started working on Super Bowl in the summer so by the time February rolled around, we were exhausted, but excited to see how the stadium/city would come to life with our graphics. I primarily executed the projects/graphics for the airports, the fan fest areas and parts of the South Beach sets. Although I mentioned there was no better feeling than stepping on the field, it was an absolutely incredible experience to see it all come to life and to be a part of something that celebrated. It is definitely something I am proud to be a part of!
There were about four major accomplishments that my class was associated with. From the start we were a powerful group of nine. We ended up winning the 2014 Conference USA Tournament as well as making it to the first round of NCAA's. That was one of the hardest games I have ever played in (on the road at Texas A&M), but it was an amazing experience to play at that level. We continued to be a strong class and helped lead team to win the 2017 regular season championship and a spot in the NCAA Tournament in our senior year. It was a rewarding end to our career to get that far.
Aside from the feeling of winning a few championships, one of my favorite moments would have to be playing at Arkansas my freshman year. I just started to earn my spot as a starter in the backline and I remember it being one of the biggest games of the season. We were struggling to prove ourselves as a serious team and facing a SEC opponent like Arkansas on the road was no easy feat. We had been coming off a winning streak, but that didn't mean we could let up. From the locker room, to warm up and to the moments leading up to the starting whistle, there was electricity in the air. I remember our coaches saying this was our time and to show them what we were made of. The game was full of hard hits and it was one of the loudest I have ever heard our team cheer each other on. I believe we ended up tying that game 0-0, but there was an intensity there that I cannot forget. I was only a freshman so it was incredible to see how intense a college game could get. That game definitely set the mindset for the rest of the season and my college career.
I remember the first away trip was always the best. It solidified our team because we were able to get to know each other away from the coaches. One of the funniest moments for myself would have been from my sophomore year when the coaches held a surprise laser tag night on the field. It was one of the cooler because we showed thinking we were going to practice, only to see these large blowup structures on our field. Within five minutes, I found myself on the floor after accidentally being decked in the face by the most competitive girl on the team, Jaz (Jasmine Isokpunwu). Of course, my team won, but I ended up with a black eye. It was hilarious because it would happen to me.
The only advice I would recommend to a young player out there is to soak it all in and give it your all. Four years goes faster than you think, and before you know it you can only revel in your playing days. Put yourself into everything you can, from internships and jobs, to special clubs associated with your College, to singing the national anthem at games. Try to spend as much time as you can making memories with your teammates even though you already see them 24/7. Also, I have unfortunately learned that you cannot slide tackle in coed soccer in Arizona… so make sure you get it all out during your college years!
I did not think I would be the person who would miss the two-a-day practices during preseason or the late-night study sessions after a 7 p.m. practice, but I do. From the 5 a.m. wake up calls to the 2 a.m. bus rides back to campus, nothing will measure up to how much work you had to put in. If there is one thing where being a student-athlete helped me the most after graduation it is I will never be late – there were one too many close calls running across the whole campus from Martel to make it to practice on time or to catch the bus.
I am so thankful to have had the opportunity to be a student-athlete. There is no greater feeling than stepping onto the field to play with some of your closest friends, and the whole experience taught me how to push myself in the most successful ways possible. I do not think I have ever experienced anything so challenging yet so fulfilling."