[00:00:00] **Announcer:**
It's time to get in the loop with LPS, the official podcast of Liberty Public Schools. From the latest school and district news updates on various district hot topics and opportunities to meet all of those that help make LPS great, *In the Loop with LPS* is here to provide yet another opportunity for us to stay connected with you.

[00:00:22] **Announcer:**
So let's get started and send you to the longtime Director of Communications with Liberty Public Schools and your host of *In the Loop with LPS*, Dallas Ackerman.

[00:00:34] **Dallas Ackerman:**
And we welcome everyone back. It is a special edition, a summer edition of *In the Loop with LPS*. This actually was going to be this little moment of taking a little break for summer, but when you have the opportunity to talk to a recently crowned national champion in NCAA Division I, you have to take advantage of it.

[00:00:57] **Dallas Ackerman:**
We are so glad to be joined by 2021 Liberty High School graduate and LPS alum Ashton Maloney. Her Texas Longhorns were crowned the NCAA national champions earlier this month in Oklahoma City. Ashton, it’s great to have you back in Liberty for a few days, and we’re so glad you’re with us.

[00:01:34] **Ashton Maloney:**
Y’all, excited to be here.

[00:01:36] **Dallas Ackerman:**
What have these last few weeks been like for you? So many people back in Liberty have been following you and celebrating this moment.

[00:01:56] **Ashton Maloney:**
Yeah, it’s been really exciting. Coming home and seeing everyone’s support has been really fun. I’m seeing people I haven’t seen in a long time congratulating me. Knowing I have that support back in Liberty has been really awesome for me.

[00:02:10] **Dallas Ackerman:**
We’re going to talk a lot about Oklahoma City and the national championship, but I also want to take you back to your journey through Liberty Public Schools. Can you share some of your favorite memories?

[00:02:59] **Ashton Maloney:**
I started at Alexander Doniphan when we were the Dolphins. Then I went to Reed Middle School and then Liberty High School. I played soccer, softball, and basketball at Liberty. It was just a really good experience for me. I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

[00:03:14] **Dallas Ackerman:**
You graduated in 2021 and had a decorated career at Liberty High. What stands out to you the most?

[00:03:33] **Ashton Maloney:**
In softball, probably beating Staley my sophomore year. And just all the trips we took to Springfield and being with my teammates. Outside of softball, winning a state championship in soccer was huge.

[00:03:58] **Dallas Ackerman:**
You were a goalkeeper for the Blue Jays, which people might not realize. Time really does fly.

[00:04:49] **Ashton Maloney:**
It’s crazy how fast it goes. Four years of high school flew by. I’m going into my fifth year of college now.

[00:05:05] **Dallas Ackerman:**
There’s a great story about how you started playing softball — that your dad told you that you had to play softball if you wanted to keep playing soccer.

[00:05:27] **Ashton Maloney:**
Yeah, that was when I was four or five. Soccer was my favorite, and my dad said if I wanted to play soccer, I had to play T-ball too. That’s how I got into softball.

[00:05:49] **Dallas Ackerman:**
How important do you think it is to be a multi-sport athlete growing up?

[00:06:11] **Ashton Maloney:**
I think it’s so important. I learned things in soccer and basketball that softball wouldn’t give me. I don’t think I’d be as athletic if I hadn’t played multiple sports growing up.

[00:07:25] **Dallas Ackerman:**
Every coach I’ve talked to says your competitiveness really stood out. Where does that come from?

[00:07:27] **Ashton Maloney:**
Probably my dad. Everything growing up was a competition. It’s just kind of in my DNA.

[00:08:53] **Dallas Ackerman:**
You had options when it came time to choose a college. Why Texas?

[00:09:12] **Ashton Maloney:**
The McCombs School of Business is one of the best in the country, and I knew we’d be competing for national championships. That combination made it an easy decision.

[00:09:44] **Ashton Maloney:**
My knee injury before my freshman year was one of the hardest years of my life. I lost my identity in my sport and had to figure out who I was outside of softball.

[00:10:33] **Ashton Maloney:**
Getting back on the field was special. My coach told me this is what I worked for, so just go have fun.

[00:11:53] **Ashton Maloney:**
My goal this season was to do whatever my team needed and leave the jersey in a better place. We really focused on playing for each other.

[00:12:44] **Dallas Ackerman:**
You set the Texas single-season hits record with 93 hits. How does that feel?

[00:12:51] **Ashton Maloney:**
It was really special, but honestly, winning the national championship mattered more to me.

[00:13:57] **Ashton Maloney:**
Our experience helped us in Oklahoma City. We focused on what we could control and blocked out the noise.

[00:15:22] **Dallas Ackerman:**
What’s going through your mind as a leadoff hitter on that stage?

[00:15:41] **Ashton Maloney:**
I’m thinking about setting the tone early and attacking pitches early in the count.

[00:16:13] **Ashton Maloney:**
Winning the national championship was unreal. Seeing our coach win his first title and celebrating together was unforgettable.

[00:17:40] **Ashton Maloney:**
One of my history teachers had us all sign papers in case anyone became famous.

[00:18:24] **Ashton Maloney:**
Our championship celebration back in Austin was incredible. The fans packed the stadium.

[00:19:08] **Ashton Maloney:**
Going to Texas was scary. I didn’t know anyone on my team at first.

[00:20:08] **Ashton Maloney:**
My advice to new college students is to branch out and be open to meeting new people.

[00:21:15] **Ashton Maloney:**
Being a student-athlete is a full-time job. Everything revolves around training, school, and recovery.

[00:22:29] **Ashton Maloney:**
Enjoy it. Don’t take it too seriously. It’s a game, and you have to find joy in it.

[00:23:23] **Ashton Maloney:**
Hopefully in 15 years I’m somebody’s boss.

[00:24:12] **Ashton Maloney:**
Texas A&M.

[00:25:07] **Ashton Maloney:**
I’ve met Matthew McConaughey, Jamaal Charles, Arch Manning, and Shaq.

[00:26:24] **Ashton Maloney:**
If I could have breakfast with any female athlete, it would be Caitlin Clark.

[00:27:14] **Ashton Maloney:**
I wouldn’t be here without my family and everything they’ve invested in me.

[00:28:09] **Dallas Ackerman:**
Ashton, thank you so much for joining us. We’re incredibly proud of you and everything you’ve accomplished.

[00:28:32] **Ashton Maloney:**
Thank you so much for having me.

[00:28:40] **Announcer:**
Thanks for choosing to spend a few minutes with us and getting in the loop with LPS. This has been a production of the Liberty Public Schools Communications Office.

[00:29:07] **Announcer:**
For more about this podcast and all you need to know about LPS, visit our website at lps53.org.