Haley “Momi” Lyman is an optimist with a diamond in her heart.
The Kamehameha softball pitcher signed with Whitworth last week, securing her future destination. The Warriors saw their promising 2020 season derailed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Lyman hasn’t given up on a 2021 spring sports calendar.
“This year? I feel like we’ll still be able to have a season. It’ll be great since we didn’t have a (2020) season, and I’ll be able to play my last year,” she said.
Whitworth, located in Spokane, Wash., has players from across the West Coast, but Lyman would be the lone islander. The Pirates have four full-time pitchers on the current roster.
“I feel great. I’m so excited about everything. I’m just glad I got this opportunity,” said Lyman, who has a 3.8 grade-point average. “I decided to choose Whitworth because of the coach (Bob Castle) and the community he described. It felt like I was able to have another home, and I connected with the girls quickly. It felt like I was going to be part of another family and he kept in contact, so that made me feel good.”
Lyman plans to major in Communication Studies with an emphasis on media technology.
“I think more like news, reports, documentaries, videos in the sports industry,” she said. “I’d like to create that for other people.”
Lockdown staples
Top 3 movies/shows
1. “All-American” (CW)
2. “New Girl” (Netflix)
3. “Mamma Mia” (Peacock)
Top 3 food/snack/drink
1. Pasta
“My favorite pasta dish is Fettucine Alfredo with shrimp. Usually, I eat it when I go out to eat. My favorite place is Bravo.”
2. Ice cream
“My favorite ice cream is coffee. My favorite brand is Roselani Kona Mud Pie. Usually, I buy it in the tub from Safeway.”
3. POG juice
“I would say the Meadow Gold brand is my favorite because I get it in the gallon size and I would say I drink it every day.”
Top 3 music artists
1. SZA – “Good Days”
2. Jhené Aiko – “B.S. (ft. H.E.R.)
3. One Direction – “Live While We’re Young”
New life skill: Baking
“My grandma (Beverly Wong) teaches me to bake. I just recently learned how to bake banana bread! I also know how to bake the basics like cakes, cookies and brownies, but I always wanted to try and learn how to to make bread pudding.”
Shout outs
“To my family. (Parents: Jen-L and Mark Lyman.) They helped me through this whole thing, always encouraged me. To my coaches and teammates for pushing me to be the best player and person I am. I just love them and all the support they’ve given me all through the years.”
Did you know?
According to its website, Whitworth is a “faith-based school” that has roots near the Pacific Ocean. The school was founded in 1890 at Sumner, Wash., then moved to Tacoma for 15 years and, finally, to Spokane, in 1915. Spokane is 318 miles from the coastline.
The Pirates nickname was formally established in 1926 after a suggestion from athletes who had grown tired of being called “Preachers” or “Presbyterians.”
Whitworth University currently has a bunch of local kids that play soccer and football. They’re from Kamehameha, Damien, Punahou, and Waianae.