In an age where excessive, mind-numbing TV coverage has seemed to reduce college sports to nothing more than an endless stream of sleazy boosters, overhyped recruits and predatory agents; athletes like TaKarra Dunning are oftentimes overlooked. However, for those earnestly seeking to glorify the noble, romantic side of intercollegiate athletics, they need look no further than the senior thrower for the BG track team. Dunning is that vastly underexposed and all-too-underappreciated breed of student athlete who combines athletic prowess, scholastic achievement and community service into one undeniably appealing package. As an athlete Dunning forms one half of BG’s dynamic throwing duo, along with fellow senior Whitney Hartman. Dunning overcame an early season hamstring injury to collect two wins in the shot-put as well as a combined five top fives in the shot-put and weight throw. ‘TaKarra is just a tremendous competitor,’ said coach Cami Wells. ‘She works very hard and always rises to the occasion when the stakes are high.’ As a student, Dunning, a psychology major, sports a nifty 3.1 GPA as well as a bevy of academic honors earned as a high-school student. In the community, Dunning has generously donated her time to help out at everything from local soup kitchen to organizations such as March of Dimes. ‘I really enjoy making a difference in people’s lives in any way I can,’ Dunning said. ‘I feel it’s what I was called to do.’ Dunning grew up in Kalamazoo, Mich., where she grew to love sports at a young age. ‘Growing up I played just about everything,’ Dunning said. ‘But my real passion was basketball.’ Dunning’s affinity with the hardwood was shaped in part by her father who coached middle school basketball for the Kalamazoo public schools. As a youth she reveled in the exploits of Allen Iverson, watching in adoration as the scrawny ’76ers guard used guts and guile to become the NBA’s leading scorer. When she reached high school age, Dunning attended Kalamazoo Central High – the alma mater of Derek Jeter – where she played basketball (serving as the team captain) and ran track. Although still harboring a deep love for basketball, Dunning enjoyed her greatest success in track. She was the Michigan Class-A shot-put champion in 2002, 2004 and 2005. Only a torn ACL suffered during her sophomore year prevented Dunning from attempting a four-peat. In addition to her three state titles, Dunning was also a four-time conference shot-put champion as well as a regional champion in the discus. ‘As an athlete I really learned a lot from my track coaches,’ Dunning said. ‘They were always preaching humility, always trying to keep us humble no matter how much we accomplished.’ ‘ In addition to her athletic excellence, Dunning was also hard at work distinguishing herself in the classroom. Never averse to cracking a book, Dunning was a marvelous student, earning All-State Academic Track and Field honors, as well as nomination for the National Honor Roll and the Who’s Who American High-School Students. ‘I’ve always enjoyed school for as long as I can remember,’ Dunning said. ‘I feel that getting a good education is extremely important for later in life. Coach Wells also stresses the importance of being a good student. She always tells us that while it’s important to show up to practice, it doesn’t mean anything if your grades aren’t in line.’ During her years at Kalamazoo Central, Dunning was also an active part of the community. She was a member of the National Honor Society, frequently helping out at the local YMCA. Upon graduation, Dunning initially desired to get away, looking at North Carolina A’amp;T as a possible destination. However, after some prodding by her mother, who wished to have her only daughter stay close to home, Dunning chose to attend Bowling Green on an athletic and academic scholarship. ‘Looking back, I don’t regret coming to Bowling Green in any way,’ Dunning said. ‘I’ve been fortunate to have a great support system around me. I am close with a lot of my track teammates, [fellow teammate] Shantell Lewis is someone who I will be friends with long after college. Plus, I can always count on my mom calling me about 30 times a week,’ Dunning added, laughing. At Bowling Green, Dunning continued to flourish both athletically and academically. As a freshman, she won the shot-put competition at the All-Ohio Outdoor Championships, which earned her a spot at the NCAA Outdoor Regionals. As a sophomore she added an indoor All-Ohio title to go along with her second straight outdoor title. This year, Dunning is in a position to earn a spot on the NCAA indoor squad, if she performs well at this weekend’s Alex Wilson Invitational there is a chance she could graduate from provisional status to a spot on the team. ‘Getting a spot on the national team would mean a great deal to me,’ Dunning said. ‘It would be a terrific way to cap off my indoor career.’ Dunning is scheduled to graduate in May with a degree in psychology, after which she hopes to attend graduate school back home in Kalamazoo at Western Michigan University. After finishing school, Dunning has her sights set on a life of community service. She hopes to go into social work and open up a non-profit organization for adolescent-aged girls with the goal of preparing them for college. ‘I definitely feel that it is my calling in life to reach out into the community and make a positive impact,’ Dunning said. ‘That is without a doubt my number one goal.’ Dunning feels strongly that her experience as a collegiate student athlete will prove to be a tremendous asset as she heads out into the world. ‘Life is all about networking,’ Dunning said, ‘and I was blessed to meet so many great people here at Bowling Green; people who I can definitely look to for advice and lean on for my entire life.’
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Dunning’s all-around success going unnoticed
March 6, 2009
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