University of Georgia Athletics
Emanuel Off To Sizzling Start At Georgia
February 12, 2015 | Softball
By Brooke McCoy
What's better than being named SEC Freshman of the Week for the opening weekend of collegiate softball? According to Cortni Emanuel, having your family by your side through it all is.
The freshman infielder from Missouri City, Texas was named the SEC Freshman of the Week after an incredible first weekend as a Bulldog. Emanuel hit .778 over six games and led the team with 14 hits and 10 runs. In addition, she showed just how quick she was by stealing 12 bases.
"It was really exciting," said Emanuel. "It was a great start to the season so I am excited for that. I just need to keep pushing and keep striving."
Although the freshman had a lot to be happy about after this past weekend, what seemed to make her smile the most was talking about her family. Emanuel comes from a big, athletic family of seven. Her younger siblings, two sisters and one brother, are involved in sports. Her dad—Bert Emanuel—is a former NFL standout. And Sydni, her older sister, is also her teammate at UGA.
Not only does she love the game, but also Cortni loves playing with her older sister.
"I really enjoy playing with Sydni," Emanuel says as a huge grin appears. "We have always played together growing up and she is someone that I look up to as a player and as a person."
She then recalls her favorite memory to date: playing with Sydni during the last game of her high school career. "It was very emotional for me," says Cortni.
Cortni's love for softball did not come naturally. Her dad signed her up for softball tryouts when she was six years old. "[Syndi and I] didn't want to play softball at all. He made us go out for tryouts and we had a great time and we have loved it ever since. He is definitely a role model." From then, their dad coached both Cortni and Sydni until they reached the collegiate level.
Her dad's influence and role throughout her softball career has made her the player she is today. She values his advice, which is "to stay composed even through your highs and your lows. Don't ever get your spirits too high or too low."
Although she misses her family, Cortni knows she can count on them to show their love and support, no matter how far away they are.
"My family came all the way from Texas to watch us play last weekend and my dad plans to come whenever he can. It's a really great feeling having that support."
The Georgia Bulldogs host the Bulldog Invitational in Athens this weekend. Emanuel and the Georgia softball team will host SIU-Edwardsville, Elon and Troy in the three-day tournament.
Brooke McCoy is a junior from Rome, Georgia, who is in her third year as a student assistant in the UGA Sports Communications Office.
"Coming Attractions" is a weekly feature published on georgiadogs.com spotlighting a UGA student-athlete who will be competing in a key home event during the upcoming weekend. Previous stories include:
August 28 - David Andrews (football vs. Clemson)
September 4 - Carly Hamilton (cross country in Bulldog Invitational)
September 11 - Tirah Leau (volleyball in Benson Hospitality Invitational)
September 18 - Mariel Gutierrez (soccer vs. Vanderbilt)
September 25 - Toby Johnson (football vs. Tennessee)
October 2 - Emma Sonnett (soccer vs. Tennessee)
October 9 - Jared Markham (swimming & diving vs. Alabama)
October 16 - Gaby Smiley (volleyball vs. Kentucky and Tennessee)
October 23 - Bella Hartley (soccer vs. Kentucky)
October 30 - Olivia Ball & Ian Forlini (swimming & diving vs. Florida)
November 6 - Megan Spencer (volleyball vs. Arkansas)
November 13 - Kolton Houston (football vs. Auburn)
November 20 - Yante Maten (men's basketball vs. Troy & FAU)
November 27 - Damian Swann (football vs. Georgia Tech)
December 4 - Marjorie Butler (women's basketball vs. Michigan State)
December 18 - Tiaria Griffin (women's basketball vs. Furman)
December 25 - International Bulldogs (men's basketball vs. Mercer)
January 7 - Maddie Locus (women's swimming & diving vs. Texas)
January 14 - Shacobia Barbee (women's basketball vs. Vanderbilt)
January 21 - Caroline Brinson (women's tennis in ITA Kickoff Weekend)
January 28 - Nathan Pasha (men's tennis vs. UCLA and Southern Cal)
February 4 - Sara Parr (equestrian vs. South Carolina)
