Lanier leaving Siena Heights as school closes next year

Da'Cariya 'DC' Lanier was forced to pause. Lanier, a Port Clinton graduate, was getting ready to enter her sophomore year of playing basketball at Siena Heights University when the school announced last month it was closing its doors after the upcoming school year. Citing financial strain and operational struggles, Siena Heights will shut down after 105 years. That forced Lanier's hand. Lanier recently announced she will transfer to Owens Community College to continue her education and basketball career. "I sat with it, quiet at first, just trying to process what it really meant," Lanier said. "Siena Heights wasn't just a school. It was a chapter I had committed to. Coming from Port Clinton, stepping into college life was already a challenge. "The people who believed in me enough to bring me in had already moved on, and from the very beginning, I felt like I had to figure it all out on my own." Siena Heights is a NAIA level school located in Adrian, Michigan. Lanier said when the school announced its pending closure, she felt that weight return. "It wasn't just disappointment," she said. "It was a reminder that nothing in this life is guaranteed, no matter how hard you work for it." The all-time leading scorer at Port Clinton High School with 1,687 points, Lanier was just getting her footing at Siena Heights. She played on the junior varsity team for the Saints last year. Lanier appeared in just four games, but averaged 21 points per game. She said she definitely considered staying at Siena Heights for the final school year. "That's the kind of person I am," Lanier said. "I commit. I give things my whole heart, and it's hard for me to let go. But I realized that staying in a place that no longer had a future would only hold me back. "It wasn't just about basketball," she added. "It was about growth, purpose, and surrounding myself with a team and a program that's actively building toward something. Owens gave me that vision. It wasn't an easy decision, but it was the right one. Sometimes maturity means walking away from comfort and choosing what challenges you to grow." The Express were 18-14 last season. Owens CC won its first three games in February before limping to a 2-5 mark the rest of the way. Lanier said the closure of Siena Heights forced her to reflect. "I'm not someone who handles change easily. I'll admit that," Lanier said. "I like routine. I like knowing who's in my corner. And I had to face the fact that even when you give something your all, it can still shift in a moment. "That's life. And for the first time, I didn't resist that truth — I accepted it. It changed my perspective." Lanier said the recent events also made her more self-aware and grounded. "I realized that my strength doesn't come from everything going right," she said. "It comes from how I show up when things fall apart. This experience humbled me, and it sharpened me. "It made me hungry, not just to prove something — but to become something." Lanier isn't the only local athlete facing the decision of what to do either now or when the school closes next year. Fellow Redskins' classmate Cadence Wallace is listed as a sophomore for the wrestling team. Edison's Hailey Chaput will be a sophomore for the girls soccer team this fall. Sandusky's Maleah Clinton is entering her junior year for the softball team. Two athletes that won't have to make a choice are Margaretta's Devyne Eisenhauer (volleyball) and Bellevue's Jack Howey (football). Both are seniors and will finish up their careers this school year. Lanier is certain of one thing. "Resilience isn't loud. It's quiet," she said. "It's in the way you choose to show up when no one's watching. It's in the decision to keep growing, even when the path is uncertain. I'm walking into Owens with a deeper mindset." The former All-Ohioan said she's not the same player she was even a year ago. "I'm more focused, more intentional, and more aware of who I am and where I'm going," she said. "No. 22 is more than a number. It's a reminder that I've carried through every setback, every shift, and every restart. "It represents the woman I've become — steady, sharp and ready to lead. The next chapter isn't about proving people wrong. It's about proving to myself that every hard moment had a purpose. And if you don't see the impact yet, just watch." Huron grad Holsapple staying at SH Jessica Holsapple isn't going anywhere. The 2023 Huron graduate is disappointed at what has happened at Siena Heights, but is going to play her junior year for the Saints. "My initial reaction was mainly shock," Holsapple said. "It was weird thinking I wouldn't even graduate from the school I so carefully chose my senior year of high school. It made sad to find out I wouldn't be able to be with the friends I have made at Siena Heights once it closed. "After the initial shock, I reflected and realized that I'm not really that surprised it happened. It felt like there were signs of this coming but I was just hoping I would make it out." Holsapple has been a key part of the Saints program that went 24-8 in 2023 and 23-6 last year. As a freshman, she tallied 108 assists and 58 kills from her setter position. Last year, Holsapple hit more, lining 120 kills to go with 42 assists. "For the final season at Siena Heights, I just want to have a fun final season with my girls and my coaches," Holsapple said. "I want to remember this season in a positive way as one last ride with my team and not just as the last time we play with each other." As of now, Holsapple doesn't know what'll happen after this upcoming school year. The nursing major may be done with her volleyball career. "I don't even know if I'll have a senior volleyball season next year," Holsapple said. "Usually when you plan your college years, you don't plan for your school shutting down completely and preventing you from completing your senior year. I guess right now I'm looking for a school to take me in for the last 2-3 semesters of my nursing degree. "It's so sad for me as a student to feel let down by the adults who promised they wanted the best for their students."