Cassidy Rowe’s commitment to Kentucky is deeper than basketball
UK junior is choosing to follow her heart as a student, athlete and fiancée
LEXINGTON, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW)- If anyone were to ever earn the title of “Kentucky’s Favorite Child,” Cassidy Rowe would be a spectacular choice.
In fact, head women’s basketball coach Kenny Brooks has coined her as such and the nickname has stuck.
“I embrace it. Just being a home state girl. Kentucky means everything for me,” said Rowe. “I want to raise my family here.”
Born to be Blue
Cassidy is a girl from the mountains. Born to be blue in a small town. Wherever she goes, home is on her mind.
“I’ve grown to really like Lexington,” said Rowe, who is in her junior season at UK. “I always used to laugh and say that this felt like the big city to me being from Virgie, where everybody knows everybody. It was a big adjustment. There’s no parking. There’s traffic.”
Her time as a Wildcat began with adjustments to leaving early to be on time and being coached by someone other than a family member.
That independence was welcome for Cassidy. She also was relieved to keep one thing from home.
“I have heard that (Lexington) has not taken my accent away though. My friends said that I was going to lose my twang!”
Her time as a Wildcat was in serious doubt as she approached the second half of her high school career though.
When Rowe suffered from back-to-back ACL injuries and her career as a Wildcat was in jeopardy, her hometown support went somewhat sour.
“I had that dream growing up and a lot of people said that was impossible. To be that example for them that means everything. I also have that sense of pride that I did make it and I love proving people wrong,” said Rowe. “I can’t even describe what it meant to take my first steps on this campus.”
A Trade for All White
In a few months, Rowe will trade her all blue uniform for a whole lot of white. Cassidy and Connor, her fiancée, will tie the knot in Tennessee after basketball season ends.
“I’m ready to get my life started with him,” said Rowe with her engagement ring shining on her left hand. “I have a countdown at my apartment.”
A jam-packed basketball schedule means Cassidy cannot taste cake for the big day, but she writes roughly once a week in her wedding planner.
“Anytime I have free time I look through it. Figure out bridesmaids dresses and music. It’s got a lot of pages.”
The story of how the future couple met is even sweeter than their wedding day dessert.
“We grew up in the same home town. We actually never connected until college. At the end of my freshman year he reached out. It’s been great ever since,” said Cassidy. “I always told myself that I wanted to finish playing basketball before I got married, but when I met him everything kind of changed.”
Back to Her Roots
Solid Blue fans shouldn’t worry about Rowe returning to the court for Kentucky. She’s not going anywhere for her senior season.
“I want to finish out my dream of playing college basketball. Lexington is special. UK is special. I feel that pride every time that I put on the UK uniform. It’s more than yourself and it’s indescribable,” said Rowe.
Besides basketball, there’s another goal Cassidy is shooting for.
“I’ll also be starting physical therapy school. I dealt with a lot of injuries that required PT and that’s what I figured out that’s what I wanted to do.”
When Cassidy walks across the stage ready to help people in need, she’ll know exactly where she wants to do that.
“My goal is to bring different resources to my hometown so any kids who want to play at a high level can do that,” said Rowe. “If you’re not from there you wouldn’t understand why it’s so special for me. It’s where I want to raise my family.”
Kentucky’s favorite child doesn’t know all the details of how she’ll help her home.
But, for now, she has how to follow her heart all figured out.
