Emily Bojan recently joined the women’s basketball roster at DePaul after completing a successful softball career at Wisconsin. Upon receiving the news, Bojan’s first call was to Mary Clare Brusek, her former basketball teammate at Marist. Brusek, who played four years of volleyball at Western Michigan before joining the basketball team, celebrated a notable 14-point game against Valparaiso last December. Initially, Brusek expressed disbelief when Bojan shared her new basketball venture, suspecting it might be a prank due to Bojan’s history with the Badgers.
The idea of pursuing basketball post-softball was suggested by Danielle Zymkowitz, an assistant softball coach at Wisconsin. Recognizing Bojan’s competitive spirit, Zymkowitz encouraged her to explore basketball, a sport she felt Bojan wasn’t ready to abandon. Despite Wisconsin having an open basketball roster spot, Bojan entered the transfer portal, with DePaul quickly expressing interest. Playing in her hometown appealed to Bojan, allowing her to perform in front of family and friends.
Interestingly, Brusek’s parents, Sean and Megan, were former DePaul athletes, with Sean coaching Bojan and Brusek in their youth basketball days. Bojan reflected on the humorous journey she and Brusek shared, initially choosing non-basketball sports but ultimately returning to basketball.
Standing at 5-foot-11, Bojan has modest expectations at DePaul, focusing on keeping pace rather than pursuing stardom. Her last competitive basketball game was in 2022, making initial practice sessions challenging. Transitioning from a power hitter in softball to a dynamic basketball player, Bojan faced the physical demands of the sport eagerly, despite carrying extra weight from her softball days. At Wisconsin, she was a catcher and utility player, achieving a .311 batting average, 13 homers, and 53 RBIs over 161 games, highlighted by a 35-game on-base streak.
Heading to Washington D.C. for a sales job, Brusek has been providing guidance to Bojan, emphasizing the benefits of embracing challenges and learning from more experienced players. Accepting assistance rather than leading is a humbling yet rewarding experience.
DePaul coach Jill Pizzotti sees potential in Bojan’s leadership qualities, despite her different college sports background. Pizzotti values the energy and leadership Bojan brings, acknowledging her adaptability and athletic insight. Bojan’s nickname ‘Bo’, attributed to Zymkowitz, highlights her tomboy persona, aligning perfectly with her sporty character in both softball and basketball.
Jeff Vorva reports for the Daily Southtown.