Razorback Volleyball Honors Their Athlete Dads III
We appreciate all that our fathers do for us each and every day, but today is a day especially for them. Last fall, we got a chance to sit down with Klaire Trainor, a current Arkansas volleyball player and her dad, Kendall, an All-American place kicker for the Razorbacks in 1987-88. The duo share a special bond, grown from their love of sports. Since then, we have highlighted more stories like Klaire and Kendall’s, featuring Razorback volleyball players and their dads, doing life together as current and former college athletes.
Ellease and Willie Crumpton
“Raising a daughter that’s a college athlete is exciting and nerve-racking at the same time. you’re excited because your daughter is successful, but nerve-racking because as a father, you’re picking apart and critiquing everything she’s doing.”
Ellease and Willie Crumpton grew up playing different sports, practicing and preparing in their own ways, but one thing stay the same, their competitive nature and desire to win at all costs.
Willie played football for the Demons at Northwestern State University in the early 1990s while Ellease is entering her junior year at Arkansas. “Growing up with a parent that competed at the collegiate level like me was difficult at times,” admitted Ellease. “As a younger athlete, there were lessons that I had to learn and sometimes it was difficult for us to see eye to eye. He was a former athlete he knew the ropes and I was a younger athlete just thinking I knew the ropes.”
The father daughter duo has shared many memorable moments together over the years, both reminiscing about those born from their love of the sport. “My dad and I always had so much fun when we traveled to my tournaments,” Ellease said. “We would always make our trips fun, setting different goals for me to reach for each tournament.”
“At nationals one year,” remembers Willie. “I yelled something at Ellease right before the serve and the next play, she got a kill and looked at me and so did everyone else in the stands. Its fun being able to be a part of her career, watch her play and connect with her during moments like those.”
As a dad, Willie has done his best to make sure Ellease is prepared for the rewarding, yet challenging life as a collegiate athlete. “The hardest part of being a student-athlete is maintaining the balance of friends, school work and your sport responsibilities. My advice was for her to maintain the balance and get the degree.”
“I have learned a lot from my dad,” said Ellease. “He taught me that hard work pays off and that nothing is free… in order to get the result I want, I have to work for it.”
Visit ArkansasRazorbacks.com for the latest information on all things Arkansas Volleyball. You can also find the Hogs on social media by liking us on Facebook (Arkansas Razorback Volleyball) and following us on Twitter and Instagram (@RazorbackVB).
