Conrad, Olson: Former Sandburg Softball Teammates, College Rivals & Big Ten Scholar Athletes

When they were at Sandburg, Sara Olson and Ashley Conrad became the best of friends. In fact, the two made up the battery for the Eagles during their varsity softball careers.

Like it does for so many high school athletes, college saw Olson and Conrad take different directions. Olson followed her older sister, Anna, to Indiana University, and Conrad headed to the University of Illinois.

Despite the rivalry shared between the two Big Ten schools, Conrad and Olson remained friends, but during the game, they put that friendship on hold and turned to the competition. They learned to battle at Sandburg.

They also learned to treasure each other's company.

"Being able to play with five of my best friends for two years was definitely a highlight from Sandburg," was how each of them put it.

The two had very different collegiate careers.

Conrad finished her stint with the Illini with 16 home runs. She was a Big Ten All-Academic pick for three years and a Big Ten Scholar athlete in all three of the years she was eligible for the award (the award is not given to freshmen). She spent time at seven different positions during her four years with the Illini, playing everywhere but pitcher and third base.

During their sophomore years, Conrad hit a home run off Sara Olson.

"Every time I played against one of my friends, I wanted to kick their (butt)," Conrad said. "When I hit that home run, it felt really good, especially since I could never hit her in high school. To sweep a Big Ten school is huge, but it's more fun to do it against friends."

Conrad finished her finance degree in May and is working with Navistar in Chicago.

Olson played as a pitcher and first baseman at Indiana. She helped the Hoosiers to a second-place finish in the Big Ten and to berth in the NCAA Regionals in Missouri. Like Conrad, Olson was a Big Ten Distinguished Scholar in all three years of her eligibility.

She fondly remembers playing against the Illini.

"It was always special to play of U of I," Olson said. "Ashley (Conrad) and I shared many memories. I will never forget Ashely hitting that home run off of me. I was kind of upset, but all I could do was smile. I would not have had anyone else hit one off of me. Ashley was my catcher and she knew my pitches well."

According to Conrad, the two have met a couple of times already this summer to trade stories and renew their off-field friendship.

Olson is currently coaching with her little sister Lora's 18-under Gold Beverly Bandits squad at the Premier Softball National Championships in Huntington Beach, Calif. She will be attending Indiana for a fifth year to finish her recreational sports management degree and working with Lora and the 2012 Hoosier softball team as a student assitant coach.