On Wednesday, May 22, Lexi Miskey had to use her time wisely. She had 45 minutes to get from a very important, pre-NCAA Super Regional softball practice to the Microscopy Society of Northeast Ohio (MSNO) conference to present a research poster. 

“After fitting in my pre-game pitching routine, I took the fastest shower, changed my practice uniform to my business casual, and drove over to John Carroll,” the fourth-year biomedical engineering student shared. 

Parking just five minutes before the poster competition started, Miskey made it just in time to present and thanks to her labmates, her poster was perfectly set up.

“Everyone was so supportive,” she shared. “I appreciate them going the extra mile to allow me to balance both research and softball that day.”

With two of the biggest games of her softball career the next two days, Miskey had to leave the event early, missing the closing remarks and poster competition results to attend another softball event. Much to her surprise, later that evening she received a text from her PI, Janet Gbur, who told her she had won. 

“I was so surprised and honored,” Miskey shared. “Especially as I walked around during the session and saw how great everyone's posters looked and all the neat projects.”

She shared the news with her teammates and recalled her favorite congratulations—a high-five from athletic director TJ Shelton.

The victories, however, didn’t stop there. Miskey and the Spartans went on to win both of their games on Thursday and Friday, advancing them to the NCAA Finals in Marshall, Texas.

“I am so lucky to have such amazingly supportive people in my life,” Miskey expressed. “My PI Dr. Gbur, my lab-mates, my coaches, my teammates, and the CWRU athletics staff, who let me take advantage of all the opportunities I can and support me to succeed at them."