Michelle Gardner returned to Bowling Green State University in June of 2024. Gardner, who was an assistant on the 1993 BGSU team that won a MAC championship, will begin her Falcon head-coaching tenure this weekend as BGSU plays five games in the Spartan Classic, hosted by USC Upstate. Gardner recently took time to discuss her return to Northwest Ohio and the team's preparations for the 2025 season...
 
What are your impressions of this team, and what have you learned about them between June, when you arrived in BG, and now?
"I really feel like I inherited a good group of kids, who really have embraced the ideas and plans that we have put in place. As we move forward, we are going to see what we have.
 
"We played a little bit in the fall, and got a feel for where we were. We started out practicing (as soon as the players returned in the fall), and I needed to get to know them. I think through that process, I've learned that there are some talented young ladies here, but we're going to find out what we have this weekend. There's a big separation between the fall and now. We came back (from Christmas break) and got right after it, but now is the time to see what we've got.
 
"We are going to see what we have, and continue to build from that. We're working on challenging them, to say 'this is where we are, this is where we want to go, and how are we going to get there?' We know that we may not get there today, or tomorrow, but we know that we are going to get there one step at a time."
 
Your team has four tournaments, with at least four games in each of those weekends, before MAC play begins. What will you look for from your team during the pre-conference schedule?
"I want to see how we compete. We've got USC Upstate, Monmouth and Akron this weekend; how do we fare against each of those teams? I have no expectations other than I want to go play and see where we are. Hopefully, we will learn a lot about our group, and then we can tweak some things and work on things that we need to do prior to our next tournament at Oklahoma.
 
"We play some very tough opponents (during the pre-conference schedule), it doesn't matter if you're a power-conference school, or a mid-major, we're striving to compete and win games and prepare for conference. At this point in the season we are going to put it all out there and see what it looks like."
 
Have any players emerged as leaders as you prepare to start the season?
"We have some leaders in the general sense, but I think we'll learn a little more once we play a few games. Some of our upperclassmen have been good in terms of being vocal, but we've got a lot of young players who are looking to find their voice. I think leadership is going to come from a lot of people, and the chance is there for people to step up and fill those roles.
 
You have a large pitching staff on the 2025 team. How do you plan to utilize those pitchers?
"I think it's going to take every pitcher we've got to win games. There are a few that I think can step up and do some big things for us this season. Morgan (Beckham) has good stuff, and I think she can have some good innings for us. Mac (Mackenzie Krafcik) will have some good innings for us. Scarlet (Anderson) will give us some good innings, and they each have different styles that can be very effective. Alyvia Roth is throwing well and will give us good innings. Madi Young is doing well, and Sydney Marshall can give us some good innings as well.
 
"It could be a pitching-by-committee situation, a staff mentality. We've got some pitchers that can have success with different styles. I think that's going to be my challenge, using all of our pitchers and their various strengths."
 
Whether it is in the circle, in the field, at the plate or in the dugout, how important is the mental part of the game, and what kinds of things can you do to ensure players have the right mindset?
"We've talked about that a lot in practice. No one is perfect, but don't let one play be the end of you. Don't let one mistake lead to multiple mistakes. Step it up and own it, and then go make the next play. I think that's been the message for this team. We're not going to be flawless every game, but what adjustments can we make? It's kind of an old-school mentality for me – let's work harder, let's work smarter, and let's make things happen the way we want them to happen. I really feel like, mechanically, we're doing the right things, but at the end of the day I'm going to put them out there and they're going to play."
 
You've mentioned that you don't necessarily know how things will shake out until you start playing some games, but is there anyone that you've identified to play key roles in your lineup?
"We have a number of players that can contribute in multiple ways. We have players that have the capability to get hot at the plate, and several who can play a little small ball to get on base and run. It's a good mix of upperclassman along with number of freshmen that are going to see time for us. We have a lot of players with the potential to make a difference. If you can get on base, I am going to find a place for you in the lineup.
 
"This weekend, when we play a game and there is a starting lineup for the first time, we need the kids who are not in that lineup to continue to battle to get in position, and push the people in front of them. Everybody has a role of some sort, and if you do it the best you can, good things will happen."