Andrews to run for Griz

Emma Andrews just released a huge sigh of relief.

The Flathead star standout signed her National Letter of Intent this past week, receiving a scholarship from the University of Montana track and field program.

 It’s a dream come true for Andrews, who had been balancing the stress that comes with making the leap from high school to collegiate athletics.

“It was really stressful, especially during basketball season,” Andrews said.

 “Bryan (Schweyen, Montana Track and Field program director) and I had been talking for a while. Once I verbally committed so much weight was lifted off my shoulders.”

Andrews’ sights had been set on Missoula for quite some time, but an injury plagued senior season had left her with some doubts.

As a junior, Andrews finished second at the state meet in the long jump, vaulting 17-2 feet and seventh in the high jump. With her eyes set on the podium for her senior season, Andrews failed to qualify for the 2014 state meet, as she battled injuries throughout the volleyball, basketball and track seasons.

For a potential Division-I athlete, her worries grew as her marks dropped, but the resilient Andrews was too determined to fail.

“She was a little bit handicapped this year with some injuries which kept her from doing as well as I know she wanted to,” Flathead head track and field coach Tom Gillespie said, “but she is really multi-talented. She was able to do so well in the long jump, triple jump and high jump, so it should be really amazing to see how well she’ll flourish,”

“There were a few times that I worried about it.” Andrews said.

“I knew that even if I had to walk on for the year, depending on my marks, I wanted to go to Montana. When I went down for my visit, the coaches were all very welcoming and they were very positive. It’s a nice community with the track team, and I’m very excited about being so close to home and my family.”

Other programs were trying to court Andrews, including Carrol College, whose partial scholarship for track and basketball wasn’t enough to pull the Flathead graduate away from her first choice.

“It’s kind of a relief I can just focus on one thing and hopefully improve my marks,” Andrews said.

Focusing on jumps, Gillespie mentioned the intrigue Andrews’ athleticism may bring to the Griz program, who have four top-five team finishes at the Big Sky Conference Outdoor Championships.

“It’s the same thing you saw in volleyball and basketball. She’s very tenacious and really worked as hard as she could, she was always focused,” Gillespie said.

“Because she’s such a great athlete and able to so many things well, I think that they may explore other events. They’re really going to be able to tap into her athleticism.”

But it’s one step at a time for Andrews, who will travel to Missoula next week for freshman orientation, where she’ll receive the Grizzlies summer workout program.

Her remarkable career as a Bravette has come to an end, but as she begins to embark on her next journey, donning the marron and silver, Andrews is ready for the opportunity that awaits her.