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Senior Casey Steffan and the Virginia softball team conclude the regular season this weekend with a three-game series at Florida State. The two teams will play a doubleheader at 4 p.m. Saturday before wrapping up at 1 p.m. Sunday. Steffan sat down with VirginiaSports.com to talk about her unique college experience going from playing club softball at Virginia Tech to being a captain at UVa, her cooking skills and the recent Shootout for Cancer event that she was a part of.
Question: What was senior day (last weekend vs. Georgia Tech) like for you?
Steffan: Senior day was fun – it was nice to celebrate five years for Karla (Wilburn), three years for me and two for Carly (Winger). It is kind of a unique senior class we have.
Question: How would you describe the season so far?
Steffan: It’s hard to look at our ACC record and say the season has been a success but I really think it has. Coach Schmidt is pointing this program in the right direction and the success of the underclassmen and the fact that the upperclassmen have set the tone for them to do well has really been a key part of the season. I think there will be a lot of success in the years to come.
Question: What kind of challenges will Florida State present this weekend?
Steffan: They are a good team. They are at the top of the conference with UNC. We are looking at it as a challenge but we are also looking to improve our game and ourselves.
Question: What is the hardest part about this time of year with the season going on and also preparing for finals?
Steffan: That is really where the upperclassmen try and help the little ones out and teach them how to prepare for finals in a setting that they have never been a part of before. They will do a good job – most of them know what they are up against.
Question: How was the Shootout for Cancer? What was your involvement with that?
Steffan: The Shootout for Cancer went really well this year. We had a bigger turnout of both athletes and members of the community than we have ever had before. Looking at it right now, we probably made about $2,300 to donate to the Cancer Research Fund. That is a big thing for us. My job was advertising, which was kind of neat. It was a good to get in touch with the community in a way that I had never done before.
Question: What is your major?
Steffan: I am a government major and I am thinking about attending law school in two years. I have really enjoyed my major; it has been an exciting year to be in politics.
Question: What has been your favorite class at UVa?
Steffan: I have really enjoyed working with Professor (Steven) Rhoads, who is in the American Politics department. I have taken two classes with him. In the one right now, we talk a lot about human nature and how that affects public policy. I think that is a really interesting way to look at politics, almost a biological prospective of why people behave the way they do in certain settings.
Question: What advice would you give to future players?
Steffan: The cliché answer is to cherish every moment, and that really is true. But also with that I think being a student-athlete here means getting involved with things outside of your sport. Whether that be the student-athlete mentor program or Big Brothers/Big Sisters through the Madison House, it’s important to find a way to be involved in the community. Athletics gives you an outlet for that and it is such a great opportunity to make a difference in some way, even if it is small.
Question: What do you like to do for fun?
Steffan: I really like to cook. My mom got me into that – I am a huge Food Network fan. I probably cook full meals 2-3 times a week. I recently made a really good seafood pasta; it was a tomato-based sauce with shellfish and that is probably my favorite thing to cook. It’s pretty easy but it looks fancy and impressive.
Question: Who do you watch on the Food Network?
Steffan: My favorite two shows are Everyday Italian (with Giada De Laurentiis) and Barefoot Contessa – love them. Also, Bobby Flay is starting to grow on me – I think I am going to grill this summer because of him.
Question: What is your favorite spot on Grounds?
Steffan: I really like the McGregor Room in Alderman Library. It’s quiet and there are leather couches, it’s kind of like a homey feel. I get a lot of work done there. It is definitely one of my favorite spots on Grounds.
Question: When you started college, did you ever think it would end this way?
Steffan: No. College for me has been an unbelievable journey and I almost look at it as two different college careers. I started at (Virginia) Tech and played club softball. I obviously had no idea the kind of commitment and dedication it takes to be a varsity athlete. When I had this opportunity at UVa, I tried to embrace it, realizing what a special experience it would be. I was right about that – I wouldn’t take this back for anything in the world. Being a starter and being a captain is all great stuff, but just being a student-athlete here is what I will carry with me for the rest of my life.