Posted on: Tuesday, April 26, 2005
Uchima a hit on field, classroom
By Ferd Lewis
Advertiser Columnist
When Tracie Uchima makes an acrobatic over-the-shoulder catch in the outfield look easy and the crowd buzzes about her concentration and focus as they did last week, University of Hawai'i softball teammates can just smile.
When Uchima runs down a ball that leaves opponents marveling at her persistence as they did at Nevada-Las Vegas, Rainbow Wahine coaches can nod.
For as remarkable as Uchima has proved herself on the diamond these past four seasons, those around her understand that is just half of the amazing story.
Here is someone who, in living the demanding dawn-to-midnight routine of a veterinary medical school candidate and Division I athlete, has learned to juggle disparate worlds and master both. At UH, where she carries a 3.86 grade point average in animal science, a .331 batting average and envied glove, she has become accomplished at both handling popflies and bovine rectal palpitation.
It is on mornings like today, when UH holds its annual Scholar-Athlete Breakfast at the Stan Sheriff Center, that the depth of Uchima's career only begins to come into focus.
"You can't even comprehend what this young lady has done," said Charles Weems, who has been her adviser, molecular endocrinology professor and cheerleader. "She's fantastic, really."
Indeed, Uchima is on the way to a third consecutive All-Western Athletic Conference season while carrying a graduate class load, doing volunteer work and having won acceptance to vet school at Michigan State.
If there is anyone who has earned a breakfast on the athletic department — or could use one — today it is Uchima who, at one point last month, dropped 12 pounds from her 5-foot-5 frame between criss-crossing the country to attend vet school interviews, keeping up with studies and playing a busy home and road schedule.
But — if there were any holdouts — it won her further respect from those around her. "She is the epitome of a role model," coach Bob Coolen said. "Not only for how gifted an athlete she is but for how focused she is as a student. They have pretty much embraced her as a person to look at."
Coolen, who has seen another doctor and several nursing graduates go through his program, had been prepared to see Uchima give up softball this year to concentrate on vet school preparation. "But she came here with a dream, mapped out a way to get there with Dr. Weems and stuck to it every step of the way," Coolen said. "From her first day of class here, her plan has been executed to perfection and her persistence and dedication have been something to see."
When Weems kept challenging Uchima to hit a home run, something she hadn't managed in her first two-plus seasons at UH, he said her first reaction was: 'But, I'm not a home run hitter.'
"And, I kept telling her, 'you can do anything you want if you want it bad enough,' " Weems said.
Of that Uchima's career has been proof positive.
"So, sure enough she finally hit one last spring," Weems said. "Then, this spring, after she hit one against an undefeated, All-American pitcher from Arizona, she brought me in the ball, autographed.
"You don't see many like her."
Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8044.
Three missed games cost her an iron-woman streak of having played in 135 consecutive games and, for a time, her spot at the top of the batting order while she got her strength back.
