Ashlyn McMeans is one of those people.

It’s not as much of a surprise if you know her and her family. Her brothers currently compete in multiple sports each at Warren Area High School.

Ashlyn, however, wasn’t involved in any organized sports in high school.

But that didn’t stop her from joining the Division II Edinboro University track and field team this season as a redshirt freshman.

Photo submitted to the Times Observer Ashlyn McMeans during her time with the Molly Dies Dance Express company. McMeans, after concentrating fully on dance through high school, is now a member of the Edinboro University track and field team. The experience as a pentathlete is teaching McMeans not to underestimate anyone’s abilities, including her own.

By the way, she hasn’t even sniffed the sport since the seventh grade.

“It’s an entirely new atmosphere for me,” said McMeans, who is listed as a sprinter and hurdler at gofightingscots.com. “Throughout high school, I wasn’t involved in any organized school sports. That does not mean I was out of shape or uninvolved in any activities. I have been a dancer for nearly 16 years. I was a member of Molly Dies’ Dance Express Company for five years. Without Molly Dies and the training I got under her name, I would be a completely different person. Dance taught me to be determined, goal-oriented, and willing to take risks and accept criticism. I am who I am because of dance. Besides that, I haven’t done any organized sports since middle school.”

Talk about getting your feet wet. She competed for Edinboro in the indoor pentathlon (60-meter hurdles, high jump, shot put, long jump, and 800-meter run) on Dec. 8.

“At the moment, I compete as a multi or pentathlete,” she said. “I compete in five events — 60m hurdles, high jump, long jump, shot put, and 800m. I competed in my very first meet (December 8). I ended up getting seventh overall out of 14 girls. The competitive part of me wishes I would have placed higher, but the logical part of me is proud of myself for doing as well as I did. I can only go up from here.

“I am learning something new about this sport every single day,” said McMeans. “Whether it’s a drill or technique or correction, it’s always something new. In the last three months, I have learned how to do five different events that are completely foreign to me. Since joining the team, I have probably done more running than I did the last 20 years combined. I never would have thought I could do that. I learned that I do have potential. I learned that even if I’m not the greatest at something, it doesn’t mean that I can’t love what I’m doing. Lastly, I have learned that I really enjoy being a student-athlete.

“I typically practice five mornings a week,” said McMeans. “Sometimes we do difficult work outs, some days we focus on event work, and other days we do pool workouts.There are also many hours spent in the weight room. When I first started telling people I was joining a D2 track team, they were all very confused. They asked why I would do that to myself. Usually, I just say I love pushing myself and trying new things and embracing opportunities. My parents were all for it because they know that I have been wanting to do track for a very long time. They’re my greatest supporters along with my best friend, Elle, who joined me on this adventure.”

Her mom, Marla McMeans, isn’t surprised.

“Even as a baby, I said she was confident and independent,” said Marla. “She would see something she wanted, and figured out how to get it. It’s no different now. Ash has always had a strong work ethic, very determined. Stubborn and bullheaded are in her genes. When she told me she was going to talk to the track coach, because she missed training and competing, I knew she already had her mind made up. And, when that happens, nothing can really change it.”

The pentathlete competes in five events, but “she didn’t complain about it,” said her mom. “Like anyone, she only complains after ‘leg day.'”

After 16 years of dance, Ashlyn needed something at college.

She found it.

“I have always been a very competitive and active person,” she said. “When I got to college and lost opportunities to compete at a difficult level, I was frustrated. I was in the dining hall one day eating with my friends that were on the track team. We got to talking about how I would like running for the team and trying different events. My friends gave me the coach’s number, so I texted her and told her that if she would allow me to practice with her team to let me know because I was very interested. A few days later, I went to her office to fill out paperwork and get information to give to the NCAA. After completing everything, she asked me to head to practice. I have been going ever since!”