University Heights, OH: Health is Wealth: Mental Health and Student Athletes

Taylor Anthony is a senior at John Carroll University where she is majoring in Communication with a concentration in digital media and minoring in Spanish & Hispanic studies. On campus she works as the media intern for The Center for Student Diversity and Inclusion and an editor for The Carroll News, the university's student-run newspaper. Taylor is also a sprinter on the track and field team and serves as vice president of the John Carroll TV club. This past summer, she had the opportunity to be a summer fellow with the International Radio and Television Society (IRTS) and an intern for the CNBC News Desk. After graduation, Taylor aspires to obtain her master’s degree in a journalism related field and eventually pursue a career as a producer or multimedia journalist.

Tyree Gaiter has led an impressive career as a basketball player and coach in his 10+ years working in athletics. He was a 4-year letterman and an All-State Honoree in 2012 from Cleveland Heights High School. In 2016, he was named a Division 2 All-American along with other prestigious awards and accolades at Notre Dame College for points, assists and steals. Ty has also played professional basketball in Bordeaux, France. Ty has a Liberal Arts Degree from Notre Dame College and a Sport Psychology Master’s Degree from California University of Pennsylvania. Serving as a Mental Performance Coach, Ty plays a major role in not only high school athletes, but also in high level youth league athletes. Through his commitment to this role, he has assisted these athletes to improve their playing abilities as well their mentality in school and sports. In addition to his current role as a Mental Performance Coach, Ty works as an assistant basketball coach at Lutheran East High School. He assists the Varsity team with skill development, practice plans and game situations. Before joining the Lutheran East staff, he was Associate Coach at Notre Dame College.

Carlie Grandjean earned her master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from John Carroll University in Cleveland, Ohio. Carlie has been playing lacrosse for around 16 years. Carlie is originally from North Canton where she played 4 years of Varsity lacrosse at Hoover High School. She received many accolades from MVP all 4 years to Athlete of the Week for the local newspaper. Carlie continued her lacrosse career to play Division 3 lacrosse at Denison University in Ohio. While getting her master’s degree, Carlie coached lacrosse at John Carroll University with the women’s lacrosse team as their graduate assistant. Carlie’s personal experience with being an athlete and a coach led her to her passion to counsel and coach athletes. Carlie has pursued a career in mental performance coaching and counseling with Sharpen Skills Training in Brunswick, Ohio. Carlie is working with athletes individually and in groups over a wide range of sports to help develop and educate these athletes on the importance of mental performance. Carlie recognizes the unique qualities it takes to be an athlete and the stress, pressure, and anxiety that they can experience. Carlie’s main goal is to help raise awareness to mental health, educate on strategies and tools to overcome negative barriers, and increase individual’s and team’s mental performance game so they can be the most successful athlete they can be.

Emily Marcinowski earned her Master’s Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from John Carroll University in Cleveland, Ohio. Emily has been playing volleyball for around 15 years and has played at the highest levels throughout high school and college. Emily played 4 years of Varsity volleyball at Padua Franciscan High School. She won a state championship her senior year of high school and continued to play Division 1 volleyball at Saint Francis University in Pennsylvania. Since finishing school, Emily has coached volleyball at the high school level and travel volleyball level. Through Emily’s personal experience with mental performance during her athletic career and a love for all sports and working with athletes, Emily has pursued a career in mental performance coaching and counseling. Emily received her certification as a Mental Game Coach Professional and is working with athletes individually and in groups over a wide range of sports to help develop and educate these athletes on the importance of mental performance. Emily’s intention is to bring awareness to the mental aspect of sports by focusing on goal setting, increasing confidence, developing trust, managing emotional control, increasing self-esteem, and many other topics. Being able to provide athletes with the tools to be successful on and off the field is Emily’s main goal!

Chris Wracker is a well seasoned athlete, student and leader. Driven by faith he takes pride in providing the best reflection of Jesus in his endeavors. As a person, Chris wants to dominate in all aspects of his life whether it is hockey, faith or business endeavors. In addition to his commitment to his faith, he is committed to his work ethic. Chris is relentless and continues to put in effort until the job is done

Mike Hollins enters his first year as the first-ever Assistant Athletic Director for Student Success and Leadership in the John Carroll University Athletic Department in the 2022-23 academic year. The brand-new role is funded by Houston Texans General Manager Nick Caserio '98, a JCU Hall of Fame quarterback and one of 33 former Blue Streak football players and coaches now working in the NFL. The job will focus on fostering a stronger connection between the playing field, academics and professional development, and John Carroll's wide-ranging student support services for JCU's 700+ student-athletes on all 23 intercollegiate teams. The Assistant Athletic Director for Student Success and Leadership will serve as a primary liaison between athletics and the Academic Success Center, academic advisors, and the University Counseling Center. Hollins' role will spearhead a comprehensive program of wellness, professional development, and personal excellence amongst student athletes that promotes leadership, personal responsibility, and community engagement. Hollins will serve as a key connection across campus and connect student-athletes to resources on and off campus to succeed.  The creation of this new position will support John Carroll's on-going efforts toward inclusive excellence and ensure that every student-athlete has the appropriate resources and support system to thrive at John Carroll University. It will provide new resources and a modern approach to supporting under-served and underrepresented student populations by ensuring that every student-athlete has the appropriate support system to thrive at John Carroll University.   Hollins is one of the most accomplished cornerbacks in recent history for John Carroll Football, the last JCU defensive back to earn All-American honors. The Maple Heights native was a three-time All-OAC First Team selection, a two-time All-Region honoree, and a 2016 D3football.com First Team All-America player. During his senior season, Hollins anchored a stellar defensive backfield, leading the Ohio Athletic Conference with six interceptions for 55 yards. Hollins tallied 45 tackles (36 solo) and 12 passes defended. Of his 45 tackles, 3.5 were for losses totaling seven yards. The star cornerback set a program record for most career games played at John Carroll with 48. Hollins played a major role in a JCU defense that ended the year ranked third in the nation in total defense (218 yards allowed per game) and fourth in scoring defense in Division III (12.6 points allowed per game) with defensive coordinator Brandon Staley at the helm. Led by Tom Arth '03, the Blue Streaks captured the program's first OAC crown since 1994 and reached the semifinal round of the NCAA Division III Football Championship for just the second time in program history.  After graduating from JCU with a degree in exercise science in 2017, Hollins worked in management at Walgreens while coaching football and serving as In-School Suspension Coordinator at Maple Heights High School. In 2018, Hollins was hired full-time as the Director of Maple Closing the Achievement Gap Initiative/Linkage Coordinator.  In this role, Hollins served Maple Heights in a variety of ways. In particular, Hollins served as an academic support for students, identifying and helping struggling students. Working with other teachers, counselors, and administrators, Hollins helped to resolve students' behavioral and academic problems. He created resources for students to overcome academic difficulties while also teaching in the classroom himself. Overall, Hollins served as a teacher, mentor, and guide for students in need of additional support.  Additionally, Hollins is a speaker, leadership coach, and author. Hollins recently released his first book, "Dreams to Purpose."