Two University of Central Lancashire* students have been selected to represent Great Britain at an upcoming European sports championship.
Bethany Casson and Samiya Rahman have been chosen as part of the 20 strong squad for next month’s Women's European Baseball Championship.
Twenty-three-year-old Bethany and Samiya, 27, who are both silver level Sports Scholarship students, will compete against France, Czechia and the Netherlands between 14 and 17 August in Hluboká, Czechia.
MSc Mountain Medicine student Bethany, who also completed her BSc (Hons) Paramedic Science course at the University, predominantly plays centre field. In addition to the University’s baseball team, she plays for Manchester Jetts and Liverpool Trojans.
Bethany, who combines her training and studies with her work as a paramedic in Barrow-in-Furness, said: “It felt so surreal to know I’d been chosen, and I was completely taken aback. I'm so excited and I can’t wait to take on the challenge.”
It felt so surreal to know I’d been chosen, and I was completely taken aback. I'm so excited and I can’t wait to take on the challenge– MSc Mountain Medicine student Bethany Casson
The former Holmfirth High School and Greenhead College has been part of the GB talent pool since 2023. She attended the spring training programme and has now made the final squad.
Bethany, who has been part of eight different competitive teams including being captain of the softball team and won the University’s Sports Personality of the Year, commented: “I love running the bases. I love the feeling of sliding into a base and getting that safe call.”
Samiya, a part-time MSc Digital Marketing Communications’ student who is based at the Burnley Campus, is an infielder and plays third base. She competes for Manchester Baseball Club as well as representing the University in the British Universities and Colleges Sport league.
The former Sir John Thursby Community College and St Mary’s Sixth Form College pupil, who combines her studies with a graphic design assistant position at Burnley Football Club, has also been part of the women’s national team talent pool for two years.
hat moment of realisation: Wow, I actually did it. Every time I reflect on it, from the moment of reading the word ‘congratulations’ on my selection letter, I get immense butterflies– Samiya Rahman, part-time MSc Digital Marketing Communications’ student
She said: “I was speechless when I found out I’d been chosen, I was completely overwhelmed with happiness and pride. That moment of realisation: Wow, I actually did it. Every time I reflect on it, from the moment of reading the word ‘congratulations’ on my selection letter, I get immense butterflies.
“I am really excited to embrace the atmosphere of the Euros - the energy, the fans, the intensity of each game. I’m most looking forward to the opportunity to compete at the highest level against some of the best players in Europe and representing my country.”
It is an amazing feat for the graphic design alumna, who was Chairman of the University’s softball team, as she only picked up a baseball for the very first time four-years-ago at a University taster session.
“I had never played before, didn’t know the rules, and had so much to learn,” added Samiya. “I was completely new to the sport, but something just clicked. I never could have imagined that a few years later, I’d be putting on a Team GB jersey, preparing to represent my country at the Women’s European Baseball Championships. It’s been a whirlwind of growth, determination, and joy and I’m beyond proud to be where I am today."
*University of Central Lancashire is proudly changing to University of Lancashire
