When D’wan Shackleford steps onto a court, she leaves her schoolwork, emotions and worries on the bench and focuses on creating havoc at the net. Her 6-foot frame allows her to glide gracefully into the air and deny any ball attempting to cross into her territory.
Shackleford spent the previous four years of her college career grabbing rebounds for the Ohio State women’s basketball team but has spent this season blocking balls on the OSU women’s volleyball team.
“You want to make sure every time you step on that court you give everything,” Shackleford said.
But this fierce competitor falls to her knees in the presence of her God.
“She knows who wakes her up every morning,” said her mother Marie Shackleford. “She knows she’s blessed.”
Shackleford is a deeply-rooted Christian in family values and spreading the word of the Lord. Her mother is a minister at the Bethel Rock Church in Shackleford’s hometown of Newark, Ohio, and said Shackleford has attended church regularly since an early age. Shackleford said she still tries to attend church as often as possible.
“(Church is) an important foundation, and I am so glad I had it,” Shackleford said.
Marie Shackleford said she has witnessed her daughter’s Christianity develop immensely since high school.
“Over the years, I saw her faith growing stronger,” she said.
When Shackleford decided to become a part of the OSU basketball team, her faith followed and began saturating every part of her life.
“She leads by example,” said senior guard Tanya McClure. “Shack is very strong in her faith. I admire her for that.”
In addition to setting the example on the court, Shackleford encouraged teammates to attend Campus Crusade for Christ meetings with her. Shackleford said approaching her comrades initially is difficult, but she takes each response in stride and makes an effort to be open to rejection.
“It’s hard to speak to young people,” she said. “I don’t make them feel guilty. They say ‘no’, but say ‘pray for me.’ I don’t bug them or annoy them, and I know they’ll come around in their own time.”
Shackleford said she invites the teams on a regular basis, but the same players usually accompany her to the meetings.
“Everyone is at their different levels with their walk with Christ,” she said.
After four years on the basketball court, Shackleford decided to use her fifth and final year of eligibility to spread her message to another squad on campus. As her basketball career began winding down, Shackleford said she started following the volleyball team. Although she hadn’t played the sport since her sophomore year in high school, Shackleford said she wanted to give the sport another try.
“I went into coach (Jim) Stone’s office and told him I was interested in playing,” she said.
Her position, middle blocker, was wide open, and Stone said she was exactly what the team needed.
“She knows how to be a good player,” he said. “It’s frightening where we would be without her. She’s contributed amazingly.”
Besides leading the volleyball Buckeyes in blocks this season, Shackleford was ranked in the top-10 nationally for blocks and steals in basketball last year, as well as the top-20 for rebounding.
“She’s always giving it 100 percent,” said junior outside hitter Stacey Gordon. “I’m really proud of her and proud to have her on the team.”
Part of that giving includes her encouragement on and off the court. After an ankle injury sidelined Shackleford at Northwestern and forced her to miss her first contest in collegiate athletics, she adopted the role of a cheerleader on the sidelines.
“When the team gets down, she brings it up,” Gordon said.
But according to friends, teammates and family, that is the type of person she is.
“She’s a very likable person: quick to smile, good sense of humor,” OSU women’s basketball coach Jim Foster said. “She’s very competitive and hard-working.”
With graduation looming, Shackleford has crucial decisions to make. She has been extended an opportunity to play basketball overseas professionally but is also interested in evangelizing her love of Christ.
“To me, (playing professional basketball overseas) is not really a priority,” Shackleford said. “I’d have to dedicate myself to the gym. I don’t have the time to focus on that right now.”
Shackleford said she is pursuing an opportunity to evangelize in India for two weeks during the beginning of January.
“The sky is the limit for her,” Marie Shackleford said.
Shackleford will soon close the book on her collegiate athletic career, but she has created a legacy for two sports by leaving the court each day with no regrets.
“I’ve enjoyed almost every minute of being here,” she said. “This is an institution where playing here is an honor.”
Armed with her relentless drive and an infectious attitude, Shackleford enters the future with one clear goal.
“I want to be successful in everything I do,” she said. “I believe you should work hard at whatever you do.”
