Aumua Provides Rock-Solid Foundation for Family

?Passionate’ is an adjective not taken lightly when used to describe intense feelings and dedication one has for something or someone. But can a person have a passion for more than one thing? For the answer to that question, one needs to look no further than a speedy 5-3 senior outfielder on the Nebraska softball team.

Passionate is the word that comes up when teammates and coaches describe Lizzy Aumua. Their use of the word usually comes after someone inquires about Lizzy the softball player and the response is directed at her love and dedication to the game. Although Aumua is passionate for the game she loves, the game is not her only passion.

Her true passion has a different name?Aumua. Lizzy Aumua has never officially recorded an at bat, played in a game, or stolen a base at NU because last season, Nebraska’s No. 12 was known by her maiden name of Lizzy Rock. And Husker fans who could clearly see Rock’s on-field passion from their chairback seats at Bowlin Stadium will again witness that same passion on the field, but will understand another passion that led Rock to welcome a new name.

Less than a month before Lizzy Rock arrived in Lincoln, she was married to Wesley Aumua on July 22, 2004. Although they were recently wed, the Aumuas knew they would have to spend time apart in the early years of their marriage. Lizzy knew she would have to leave Wes to make the trip to Lincoln, and Wes knew he would have to leave Lizzy to fulfill his duties as a fireman on the U.S.S. Nassau in the U.S. Navy. Wes is currently training off the coast of North Carolina before heading to Iraq in November.

Because their new life together would have to start apart, Lizzy elected to go by her maiden name in her first year at Nebraska.

"I wanted to change my name right when I got married," she said. But because of her upcoming move, she elected not to although the desire to take her husband’s name was strong.

"For me, he’s my husband and I’m very proud of that," Aumua said. "I absolutely loved being Lizzy Rock, but I love being Lizzy Aumua more because I love being married."

Although Husker fans will see a new name on the program, they can expect more of the same from the player that hit .378 with a school-record 27 sacrifices in 2005. But just as No. 12 will boast a new last name, she will also play a new position.

The Huskers’ starting right fielder in 2005, Aumua will move to center field this season. While switching positions in your final season may not be ideal for some players, Aumua is happy to help the team any way she can.

"I like playing center," she said. "Honestly, it doesn’t matter where they put me, I just want to play. It’s a different position so there are a lot of adjustments to make, but it’s fun and I really like it a lot."

It should come as no surprise that Aumua has embraced the change and enjoys her new position. Her passion for the game and for her teammates is a coach’s dream and is something that drives Aumua to be the best that she can be.

"I have a lot of expectations because this is my last year," she said. "There are a lot of things I want to accomplish personally. My focus this year, because our team is so great, is on them. I love this team so much, that’s where my main focus is."

As an All-Big 12-caliber player with a husband serving in the military, it may seem that Aumua has little time for anything else, but Aumua has yet another passion?school.

In fact, the strong academic reputation of Nebraska was a main reason she chose to come to Lincoln after earning first-team All-America honors at Mount San Antonio College.

"I took my trip out here and as soon as I got here, I just knew," Aumua said. "Actually, the thing that really got my attention was the academic All-American wall in the Hewit Center."

The 2004 Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year at Mt. SAC and a two-time Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll selection in two semesters at NU, Aumua values her education.

"Grades are really important to me," she said. "The teachers are awesome and the academic program is honestly the best in the nation. It’s really great and it’s very supportive."

Aumua’s passion for work and school enables her to excel in both, but it’s her added passion for her new home that makes Aumua truly special.

"Honestly, it amplifies everything," Aumua said. "I look at things from a different perspective. He’s my heart and it makes everything better. It’s harder because he’s away, but it’s easier because he’s always with me.

"It gets kind of hard (being away from him) because I want to see him every day and I want to talk to him every day and I can’t. But having a family like softball is a blessing because I can put my focus on school and softball when I can’t be focused on him."

While Aumua’s playing career is coming to an end, she plans to stay at Nebraska until she earns her degree in May of 2007.

"Wes has one more year in the Navy," she said. "I’m going to stay in school one more year and get my prerequisites for dental school out of the way. When I graduate, we’ll both move back to California where I’ll go to dental school."

When that day comes, everyone associated with Nebraska softball will be sad to see her go, but will wish her well as she pursues her biggest passion of all.