Athlete warns of drinking consequences
Kelly Fisher
Issue date: 10/14/08 Section: News
Sarah Panzau an All-American volleyball player came to visit the athletic department to give a special presentation to all the NCAA athletes about alcohol abuse.
When she was 21, Panzau was in a near fatal car accident. She drove her car with a blood alcohol level that was almost four times the legal limit. The accident left her as an amputee, she lost her left arm; and spent over four weeks in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).
The presentation opened with multiple graphic images of Panzau's car crash. Then, Panzau started to describe her injuries, which included the amputation of her left arm and multiple lacerations.
Pamzau told the crowd, "I could have read you statistics, but it wouldn't have done nada." She wanted to be relatable to the students, so she used humor to help her emphasize the important points. Although she described her story, she kept the presentation as an open forum so that everyone could participate and share their feelings on her story.
Panzau was a two time All-American volleyball player and was a NCAA athlete for a year before she decided to drop out of school and became a bartender. Her advice to the athletes of Saint Mary's was, "you guys could learn from me and not go down the road that I went… I thought I was invincible; I thought that I could do anything."
According to the doctors, the only way Panzau survived the car crash was because of the way her body was built and maintained. A doctor told her mother that, "she has more muscle in her chest than more than 75% of the guys [that he had worked on]." Part of her speech was dedicated to treating bodies with respect, especially those of student athletes.
Overall, her discussion was mainly about making good choices. Panzau said "Decisions need to be made before you go out." she said that that way students can learn from her mistake.
When she was 21, Panzau was in a near fatal car accident. She drove her car with a blood alcohol level that was almost four times the legal limit. The accident left her as an amputee, she lost her left arm; and spent over four weeks in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).
The presentation opened with multiple graphic images of Panzau's car crash. Then, Panzau started to describe her injuries, which included the amputation of her left arm and multiple lacerations.
Pamzau told the crowd, "I could have read you statistics, but it wouldn't have done nada." She wanted to be relatable to the students, so she used humor to help her emphasize the important points. Although she described her story, she kept the presentation as an open forum so that everyone could participate and share their feelings on her story.
Panzau was a two time All-American volleyball player and was a NCAA athlete for a year before she decided to drop out of school and became a bartender. Her advice to the athletes of Saint Mary's was, "you guys could learn from me and not go down the road that I went… I thought I was invincible; I thought that I could do anything."
According to the doctors, the only way Panzau survived the car crash was because of the way her body was built and maintained. A doctor told her mother that, "she has more muscle in her chest than more than 75% of the guys [that he had worked on]." Part of her speech was dedicated to treating bodies with respect, especially those of student athletes.
Overall, her discussion was mainly about making good choices. Panzau said "Decisions need to be made before you go out." she said that that way students can learn from her mistake.