“Let your hope make you glad. Be patient in time of trouble and never stop praying.” Romans 12:12

 

The Roman Catholic Church has always been a part of the Woods family. Taylor Woods grew up in the Catholic Church and attended Public School Religion classes at St. Paul’s Catholic Church as a young girl. She was baptized, made her first Holy Communion and confirmation. 

As many kids growing up, they do not fully understand the importance of going to church; but rather they are obligated to attend mass with their family and attend classes to develop their faith. At the time, Woods was going through the motions. 

It was not until Woods became a member of the women’s basketball team at Ashland University when she truly developed her faith as a non-denominational Christian. But while reflecting on her childhood, Woods recognized the Lord’s presence in her life. 

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Woods was an ordinary 4-year-old girl who loved ice cream. It became a family tradition to go out for ice cream after her father’s softball games in the summer. They would always go to Pav’s Creamery in Coventry. Pistachio was her favorite flavor.

One night, Woods was excited when her father won his softball game because that meant they could go get ice cream. But, because they just got ice cream the night before, her father said no. In the midst of running back and forth to her parents, begging to get ice cream, Woods was hit by a car in the parking lot. 

Instead of making a trip to Pav’s, Woods made a trip to the emergency room.

After being flipped in the air, it could be expected that Woods would walk away with many bruises and possibly some broken bones. Instead, she just had a scrape on her forearm.

Looking back at the incident, Woods believes that her guardian angel was by her side.

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Woods grew up in Coventry with her parents and two siblings. Shortly after their move to Wadsworth, Woods’ parents divorced. She was 8 years old at the time. 

As a child, it is difficult watching your parents go their separate ways and form new lives. Luckily, Woods and her siblings were not negatively affected by the situation. Woods looked at it as God’s way of blessing her with two families instead of one.

Woods is the middle child, with a younger sister, Jordan, and older brother, Robbie. As a result from her parents’ divorce, she was blessed with two stepsisters and one stepbrother. 

Regardless of the situation, Woods is able to maintain the typical mother-daughter and father-daughter relationship with her parents. Woods and her mom enjoy doing girly stuff, like going shopping, getting their nails done and going to see movies. On the other hand, Woods will watch a sporting event, specifically basketball, or shoot hoops at the local gymnasium with her dad. 

Her parents are her two biggest fans and supporters. 

When it comes to basketball, Woods describes her mom as the cheerleader and her dad as the coach. She chuckles at the thought of her mom telling her that she did a great job, but in reality she did not play well. In contrast, Woods’ dad will critique her playing and point out what she could have done better.

That reflects the father-coach that Woods grew up with. 

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Woods’ basketball career began at the age of five. At the time, there was no girls’ league at Coventry’s YMCA, so Woods had to play in an all-boys league with her brother.

Not only was she playing with and against boys, but she was playing with and against boys who were three years older than her. 

Woods’ father was the coach and devoted to the game of basketball.

As she grew up, Woods’ father encouraged her to play in a nearby little league to get involved. Once she moved to Wadsworth, her father got her involved in Wadsworth’s travel leagues from third grade to sixth grade. 

But once Woods reached middle school, her father could no longer be her coach. Off the court, his knowledge for the game continued to impact Woods as an athlete.

She moved on to middle school and high school basketball at Wadsworth. During the off-season, Woods trained in the gymnasium with her father and participated in the AAU during the summer. 

At Wadsworth, Woods was named first-team All-Suburban League, first-team Tri-County Coaches Association and the Medina Gazetteall-star as a junior. She averaged 12.8 points per game, 2.7 rebounds per game, 3.7 steals per game and shot 57.3 percent. Woods and her team won Suburban League and district titles, and reached the regional semifinals. She was trained in a winning program.

The five-foot-five, 103-pound high school junior was recruited and signed to play for Ashland University.

During her four years at AU, Woods has been known as the major contributor to Ashland basketball. She also earned record standings in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and within Ashland’s basketball program. 

Her most recent achievement was breaking the program’s 3-point record.

Woods hit her 203rd 3-point shot against Northern Michigan on January 8.

But for Woods, it is not the record breaking that she treasures the most; but rather the relationships she has made with her teammates, coaches and with God throughout her basketball career.

Woods enjoys the biblical speeches and prayers that Sue Ramsey, head coach of women’s basketball at AU, holds prior to games. She also participates in the Bible studies that Woods and her teammates hold before and after practices or games. 

Woods acknowledges her teammates, especially previous teammates Carrie (Daugherty) Pickens and Melanie Poorman, for helping her find the Lord. 

She enjoyed going to Fellowship of Christian Athletes gatherings and Bible studies with Pickens. Woods continues to practice her spirituality with Poorman by attending retreats, journaling, reading daily devotionals, praying, listening to Christian contemporary music and attending church on Sundays. 

Woods recognized her spiritual growth when God began answering her prayers.  

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Throughout Woods’ years at AU, she has grown personally, socially and spiritually by growing closer to the Lord. 

Her most recent prayer involved her future.

Over the summer, Woods completed an internship with the human resources department at Westfield Insurance in Westfield Center. 

She was later offered a full-time position after graduation.

Woods thanks the Lord for giving her a great opportunity and leading her in the right direction.