The name “Spielman” may not come as a surprise to most. To Ashland fans, Ashland Eagles women’s basketball player Macy comes to mind, while to football fans, her dad Chris Spielman may pop into their heads.

Chris Spielman, the former NFL player who was drafted by the Detroit Lions in the second round of the 1998 draft after having an All-American career as a linebacker at The Ohio State University. 

Spielman has many career-high records with the Lions, where is the all-time leader in career tackles and also led the Lions defense for 8 seasons. 

Following in her father’s footsteps, junior Macy Spielman transferred to Ashland’s program from Bowling Green State University coming. Going into college, Spielman was a second-team All-American out of high school. 

With her success, it’s been clear that athletic genes run strong in the Spielman family, and Macy has very proven that through her hard work and dedication within the Ashland women’s basketball program.

In her first season at AU, Spielman landed in the Great Midwest Atheltic Conference honors, where she averaged 12 points and 3 rebounds per game. She shot 57.0 percent from the field and 37.7 percent from the 3-point range. On top of that, she had a team-best of shooting 87.0 percent from the free-throw line. 

With such a historic athletic history in the Spielman family,  she has felt the competitiveness since day one.

“Growing up, I have always played with a certain intensity that has been instilled in my family, it was either all effort all the time or you would be taken out of a game, even if that was just a game being played in the backyard,” she said. “That’s something that I have always appreciated about my family. It’s all in all the time and not just with sports.”

Spielman then went on to explain how she believes that pressure is something she enjoys.

“Pressure is a privilege. It is something I never want to take for granted,” said Spielman.

She also is thankful for the way her family has supported her athletic career and how much it means to her. 

“Yes, I give a ton of credit to my dad and my family, but right now, it’s Ashland,” she said. “My family has helped prepare me for this moment, but right now, it’s Ashland all the time.”

“My dad did really well with recognizing in his sport that it is more than just a sport, how you approach your game is a huge testament to your character and that is something that he never took lightly. When I play my sport I want people to know who I am as a person,” she said. 

“One of the things that I can say about Macy is just her enthusiastic energy to her,” said Head Coach Kari Pickens. “She is just a pure joy to have on the team.”

Macy has proved, much like her dad, what all entails when being an athlete, which will help prove her mark in the Final Four game as they are set to take on Glenville.

“Yes, I give a ton of credit to my dad and my family, but right now, it’s Ashland,” she said. “My family has helped prepare me for this moment, but right now, it’s Ashland all the time.”