Kellie Deska Cruises Through Alabama Career
2/22/2007 12:00:00 AM | Softball
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. ?? Senior catcher Kellie Deska has put in a lot of time both on the softball field and in the classroom at the University of Alabama, but she has also found the time to relax and enjoy herself during the summer by taking a variety of cruises to the Caribbean.
Deska, a native of Lake Jackson, Texas, likes to unwind in the summer by taking cruises to different islands. She has been to several different places including, Jamaica, Cozumel, Mexico, Honduras, St. Thomas and St. Maarten. Most the time her family traveled to islands in the Caribbean. The trend started back when Kellie was in the eighth grade.
"The first cruise I ever went on was when I was in eighth grade and my parents had been on some before and they decided to take my brother (Troy) and I and we loved it," said Deska. "Now, it's the only way we vacation because everything is right there but you can still get out on the different islands."
One of the reasons Kellie likes cruises so much is the variety of things to do while on the cruise ship.
"On the cruise ship my favorite thing is dinner every night because you get dressed up and you have the same waiters the whole time, who are from different countries," said Kellie. "We try to get to know them a little bit. There is also dancing every night. I also like lying out on deck with the band playing. Pretty much I am happy all the time."
There are several activities planned during the day and night for the passengers. Besides having dinner together each night, Kellie and her family would also go to the different shows that are put on each night.
"During the day they have different activities on the deck and they have a gym to work out in," Deska said. "They have two shows every night, so depending on your dinner time you can usually make one or the other. The shows aren't quite as good as the shows in Las Vegas or New York but they are still good. They usually have music, dancing or magicians. They also have casinos so there is always something going on. I don't sleep a lot because I like to stay up late and get up early."
When they dock and give the passengers some time to spend on land, Kellie said they have done just about everything, but her favorite thing to do is to just go lay out on the beach. She is not a big fan of going into the water because she doesn't like salt water but she does enjoy the atmosphere and sunshine.
Some of the other things that the Deskas have done include snorkeling, boating, swimming with the dolphins and shopping.
"One time we rented a little boat and had our own driver and we went snorkeling on our own," said Kellie. "I am not a big snorkeler but my mom is. I really like lying on the beach. We've taken glass-bottom boats out also, the ones where you can see the fish. We swam with the dolphins on the first cruise and we got to touch them and play games with them. We also got to hold on to their fins and let them pull us along. Sometimes we just go shopping, but I honestly wouldn't care if I went on a cruise to nowhere and never got off the boat. I just like the atmosphere on the boat."
Kellie tries to preserve the memory of her experience on these cruises by keeping photographs of her and her family that cruise ship personnel take for them.
"On a cruise, every time you get off the boat they take a picture of you and at dinner they take pictures that you can buy," said Kellie. "They have borders and tags on them that remind you of things. At home my mom has an entire wall of pictures that she adds to every time we go somewhere."
Kellie and her mother, Cindy, are planning on going on another cruise after Kellie graduates in May. It would be the eighth cruise Kellie has been on and will be a graduation present from her mother. They are planning on taking a cruise to Cozumel, Mexico, the Grand Cayman Islands and Jamaica.
Of all the places that she has gone, Kellie says that Cozumel is her favorite.
"My favorite place is Cozumel because we always go to the same beach," said Kellie. "It has really good snorkeling and it's a clean beach. One time we swam with dolphins and you can rent other things to do as well."
Although Kellie prefers going to places with warm weather, she would eventually like to try out some other places such as Alaska.
"I like going to places where you can wear shorts and a t-shirt, but I would like to try the Alaskan cruise sometime," said Kellie. "I might have to work up to that though. I like anything with a warm climate."
Deska is on pace to graduate in four years with a degree in finance and a minor in economics. She has excelled academically while with the Crimson Tide, earning Academic All-SEC honors all three seasons. After graduation she hopes to find a job working at a bank somewhere in the South.
"I want to start in a bank somewhere to get some experience and eventually, in the long-term, I would like to be a financial planner," said Deska. "I want to help people manage their money and invest it more on a personal basis and not on a corporate basis. I might eventually end up having my own company but first I have to get some experience."
"She is a great kid," said Alabama softball head coach Patrick Murphy. "She will graduate in four years. She is what a real student-athlete should be about. I think it has paid off academically for her. She is one of a few student-athletes that will graduate within four years, which is really unheard of now-a-days."
During her four years with the Crimson Tide, Kellie has been very appreciative of her opportunity to play college softball. She came from Brazoswood High School in Lake Jackson, where her team not only one the Class 5A Texas State Championship in 2000 but also was the 5A National Championship team that year according to USA Today.
"Just being here is a privilege for me and I am so thankful to have the opportunity," said Deska. "I wouldn't trade it for the world. So many people dream of having this experience and having Alabama on their jersey and I was lucky enough to be one of those people. I am just sad that it is winding down."
Murphy is pleased with his decision to bring Kellie to Tuscaloosa because she brings a positive attitude every day and epitomizes what the coaches look for from their players.
"I've never had a kid that's so thankful of the opportunity," said Murphy. "It's just refreshing to have end of the semester meetings and the first thing she says is ??thank you for the opportunity.' It's been incredible, and it's very gratifying to hear that as a coach and a coaching staff from a young lady. Without fail for four straight years she has been thankful for the opportunity. I don't think she will ever realize how thankful we are to have had her.
Secondly, she is one the most easy-going, happy-go-lucky, kids we have ever had. I think in four years I don't remember one ??Debbie the Downer' day from her. She comes in with a good mood and does her job and does whatever is necessary to help the team and she realizes there's many, many ways she can help the team. I think she's done every one of those since she has been here."
Deska has embraced her chance to help the team succeed. She has played an integral part in helping the Tide go to two straight Women's College World Series.
"I haven't been a starter for four years but the coaches see something in me that is a necessity to the team and I value that in the fact that everyone's role is important on the team," said Kellie. "Whether you are the starting pitcher or you warm up the left fielder between innings, everyone has a job to do. You have to have the right type of attitude to handle what your job is. I may not be on the field every game but I like to think that I make an impact in other ways."
Kellie has lived in the South since shortly after her birth. She was born in Wilmington, Del., but when she was 10 months old her father, Keith, was transferred to Lake Jackson for his engineering job. After moving there Keith got a job with Dow Chemical and they have lived in Lake Jackson ever since. Her mother is an elementary school principal at Polk Elementary School. When Kellie was little her mother was the assistant principal at her school.
"I used to tell everyone that I went to the principal's office everyday," said Kellie.
Now Kellie is in her final year at Alabama. She will be honored on Saturday with Kellie Deska Day at the Alabama Softball Complex. The Tide will honor its seniors throughout the season at home games. Bama is hosting the Hampton Inn Crimson Classic this weekend with Indiana State, No. 22 N.C. State, Western Kentucky and Winthrop coming to town for games Friday-Sunday.
