Basketball just one part of life for Kristi Beougher
by Mark Womack, sports information director
CEDARVILLE, Ohio (1-25-2007) - It has been an incredible basketball experience at Cedarville University to this point for Kristi Beougher. The Lady Jackets have averaged 33 wins per season during her career with three American Mideast Conference championships, three straight trips to the NAIA Division II national tournament, and a weekly spot near the top of the national rankings.
The six-foot senior forward has been a part of two national-runner up teams and one Elite Eight squad. Individually, she is sneaking up on scoring her 1,000th career point and has quietly become one of the program's top rebounders.
The college basketball world in which we live can be so driven by wins and losses that such success should require an unparalleled focus on the game where little else matters. Not so for Beougher.
The game is a vital part of Kristi's life. However, she has learned to prioritize it in her busy schedule where ministry is the focal point.
Beougher wasn't sure she would even play the game at the next level while looking for a college to attend after graduating from the Christian Academy of Louisville. Ironically, Cedarville wasn't even on her radar screen.
"I actually applied to about a dozen schools all over the United States, not including Cedarville," said Kristi. "There were all types of schools on the list from big to small, Christian to secular. I had never heard of Cedarville.
"Then, Joy Fagan, who was the assistant coach at the time, saw me play and started recruiting me. As a favor, I visited Cedarville to honestly just make some people happy. The first moment I stepped foot on campus I was 100% convinced this is where God wanted me.
"I was so impressed with the atmosphere of community, conversation, and love as well as the dynamic of the team and how friendly they were. I really appreciated Coach Martin's heart for competitive basketball and balancing that out with ministry and sharing the gospel. The professors I met and chapel also impressed me. I just completely fell in love with every aspect of life here. As soon as I visited it was an easy decision."
Her love for people is key in nearly everything she does and wants to do. That love played a part in deciding on a youth ministry major at CU for the Dean's Honor List student with minors in psychology and music. It led her to be part of multiple missions trips using basketball as a means with which to share the gospel. It is even a reason she has taught piano lessons to young people and college students on the side during the past two years.
"Kristi has put basketball in its proper perspective to use sports as a ministry," remarked head coach Kirk Martin. "On the court, she has become a consistent and steady player for us despite dealing with injuries all four years. She possesses an internal drive and motivation to do her very best at everything. That keeps her going."
These traits of a love for people and a drive to do her best can be traced back to the relationship she has with her close family. Kristi's father, Tim, is a professor at Southern Baptist Seminary in Louisville and her mother, Sharon, is a Bible teacher at her high school. She reveals that her parents have been the two biggest influences in her life which has also filtered down to her younger brother and two younger sisters.
"My mom has taught me exactly what it means to be a woman who is seeking the Lord and is living that out to the fullest. If I could characterize her in one word it would be 'compassion.' She is so merciful and compassionate to everyone and is always seeking ways to serve others.
"As for my father, I'm definitely 'Daddy's Girl.' He has had a huge impact in my life of motivating me yet never pushing me. My parents have totally shaped me in that as long as I'm giving my best effort then that's what is important. That's what God asks and requires. The outcome isn't as important as the process."
Kristi's life took a new twist last summer during an internship at Tallowood Baptist Church in Houston, Texas as part of her academic requirements. "It was an incredible opportunity that gave me so many various ministry experiences. God taught me so much about my walk with Him." What's more, she met her future husband there.
Will McCartney, who is an associate youth pastor at the church, proposed to Kristi in December and they will be married this coming May 25. Just another item, though more important than most, to put on the priority list.
"My heart is to be involved where he is involved in a church working specifically with young girls and college age girls, and eventually with other young women and couples. Whether or not that works out to be an actual job really makes no difference."
That brings everything full circle back to the basketball court where Beougher has been able to experience an era like no other in Lady Jacket hoop history. She doesn't take it for granted.
"I have been so privileged to be part of the class that I am in and it has been an amazing experience to play with my teammates. We believe we earn respect by playing well and the further we go at the national tournament the more people we can influence.
"We want to win, but success has never been the focal point of our team. When we talk about games, a huge part of motivation is that we need to be who we are. God has gifted us and we need to be using that. He has brought us together for a purpose."
And her entire CU encounter?
"God has challenged and developed so many areas of my life since I've been here. I feel like I have so much more of a solid foundation of knowing who I am compared to who I was four years ago.
"This has been a place for me to develop the strengths that I have and to show me where my weaknesses are. I just love Cedarville."
