Nothing has ever been handed to BGSU women’s basketball junior guard Emily Siesel—who is in her third season wearing Orange and Brown colors.

Hailing from New Washington, Ohio, and a graduate of Division IV Buckeye Central High School, choosing BGSU for Siesel was an easy decision.

“As soon as I had the idea that I could potentially come to Bowling Green and be a walk-on here, that was what I really wanted, and I love Bowling Green because I have a lot of family from here,” Siesel said. “My mom went to Bowling Green High School, and so all my grandparents are here and all my aunts and uncles, so that community and family aspect was really awesome to me.”

During her high school career, Siesel set her school record in steals with 179, a single-season scoring record with 496 points, and eventually was named the Ohio Division IV Player of the Year in her senior year.

Her biggest supporter in high school and still to this day? Her father, Scott Siesel.

“My dad from a young age was always my coach in elementary and middle school, and he was my AAU coach,” Siesel said. “There’s a lot of late nights in the gym with him and my sisters and brothers, but he was the one that took me everywhere. He pushed me, and he still comes to everything today and rarely misses a game.”

Siesel came to Bowling Green under former head coach Robyn Fralick as a preferred walk-on. While some days can serve as motivation, at the end of the day, Siesel shows up every day to be the best version of herself and to help her teammates and the program in any way she can.

“That does kind of linger in the back of my mind at times, but essentially it’s my teammates and just the work that we all put in together I think [is] what motivates me to be the best,” Siesel said. “I can show up every day with the same energy and enthusiasm to be the best player that I can be and ultimately help our team.”

Head coach Fred Chmiel knows just how hard Siesel works and has seen her evolve tremendously as a player over the past two years.

“I think she works extremely hard. I think she loves basketball. She does it for the joy of the game. She doesn’t do it for any ulterior motives, and that love has grown, and so has her skill level,” said Chmiel. “She comes in every day and does what you ask of her. She puts her body on the line, and she’s grown as a basketball player.”

Siesel’s role has evolved throughout her time under coach Chmiel, but no matter what the team needs, you can count on her to step up.

“I think Emily kind of figures out what we need from her and when we need it; she’s intelligent that way,” Chmiel said. “She allows us to coach her. She allows us to use her in different situations, and you can depend on her. When you call somebody and you call their number off the bench, and you know what you’re going to get from them. That’s a huge thing for a coach [and] for a team.”
No matter her role on gameday, Siesel is ready to contribute in any way that she can.

“She’s just the prototypical ultimate teammate; she does anything that you ask of her, [and] she doesn’t care whether she plays one minute or 40,” Chmiel said. “She’s always the same person, and that person is incredible.”

What’s Siesel’s style of basketball, you may ask? Play hard defense that can translate into quick offense.

“I like to play up and fast defensively. Get steals on the defensive end and then translate that to offense,” Siesel said. “A fast offense and transition is always really fun, which we’ve been doing more late in the season.”

Every team needs players who will not only fit but elevate the culture, but there is no doubt whatever the program needs, Siesel will fill whatever role the Falcons need.

“What you see with Emily is what you get,” Chmiel said. “She doesn’t fake her kindness, she doesn’t fake her energy, she doesn’t fake her happiness. She is who she is, and that’s a pretty incredible young woman.”