Here's a twist on the headlines you often read regarding big-time college athletics: Lizz (Ciprian) Erickson '90 gave up a new car to play basketball at St. Ambrose.
As a record-setting member of Lisa Bluder's powerhouse St. Ambrose women's basketball teams of the late 1980s, Erickson had ample motivation to want to be (and remain) a Queen Bee.
Not initially, however.
"My dad kind of bribed me to go to St. Ambrose," said Erickson, who had planned to give up basketball after high school. "He said, 'If you don't like it there, I'll buy you a car and you can transfer someplace else.' Obviously, I never transferred, and I loved it there."
And?
"I never got the car," she said.
Instead, she got so much more.
Winning 121 of 132 career games, reaching the Elite Eight of the NAIA Nationals all four years and playing in the Final Four each of the last two campaigns helped forge lifelong Queen Bees' friendships.
As she travels for business, Erickson frequently visits with old teammates such as Cindy Born '92 in San Diego, Carleen Forler '89 in Washington DC, and Robin (Becker) Pingeton '90 in Columbia, Mo.
Erickson also made friends for a lifetime off the court. Every few winters, she and friends she made in classrooms and residence halls take a trip somewhere warm. This past fall, she and 13 classmates returned to SAU for their 25th Homecoming reunion.
"I have siblings and friends who went to Big Ten schools, and they just don't stay in touch with their friends from college like I do," she said. "They are all so jealous that I have such a great group of friends from St. Ambrose."
Erickson's appreciation for her St. Ambrose experience shows in the ways she has chosen to help shape the experiences of future SAU students and athletes. She is a member of the Athletics Advisory Council, a group that meets with members of the Athletics Department twice each year to review existing programs and share input to improve them. She also is among the first of several former Fighting Bees to join the Athletics Team Captain program, an initiative through which former athletes will reach out to better engage fellow alumni.
Both roles make use of the leadership skills Erickson displayed as a Queen Bees point guard, along with the people skills she has developed throughout a career in sales.
Since 2007, Erickson has been key account manager for SPRI Products, which markets premium fitness equipment. She currently works with national commercial clients such as Lifetime Fitness and 24 Hour Fitness. Previously, she helped equip new wellness and recreation centers at the University of Iowa and Illinois State University.
Her former role enhances Erickson's appreciation for recently announced plans to build a Wellness and Recreation Center at St. Ambrose. "Students expect quality recreational facilities," she said. "This really is an important step for St. Ambrose."
Erickson remains active herself. She continues to play basketball, volleyball and softball. She also plays golf with her husband as frequently as their busy schedules allow. Always, she said, she plays to win, which, after all, became a habit as a Queen Bee.
"It has made me a better salesperson because I'm so competitive," she said. "I learned that from having great teammates and coaching at St. Ambrose."
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