Senior Salute: Aaron Gillespie
April 15, 2020
Name: Aaron Gillespie
Hometown: Roseville, Michigan
High School: Memphis
Athletic accomplishments:
- Earned four varsity letters on the baseball team.
- Played in 99 career games
- As a freshman in 2017, started 30 games in centerfield and 10 games on the mound. Best collegiate season with a .411 batting average, .589 slugging percentage, 14 doubles, 28 runs, 29 RBI and 14 stolen bases. Had 18 multi-hit games. Also won three games on the mound, with a 4.19 ERA over 58 innings. Named MIAA Pitcher of the Week after throwing a complete game, seven-hit shutout over Alma College on May 6.
- As a sophomore in 2018, made 25 starts in centerfield and eight starts on the mound. Posted a .321 batting average, .455 slugging percentage, 26 runs, nine doubles, three triples, 18 RBI. Posted a career-best 13-game hit streak.
- As a junior in 2019, was limited to only 12 games, with 10 starts due to an injury. Had a .310 batting average.
- As a senior in 2020, started all 12 games in centerfield and and earned the save in his only relief appearances. At the plate, had a .375 batting average. Ten of his 18 hits were extra-base (nine doubles, one triple) for a .604 slugging percentage.
- Tied single-season record with 14 doubles in 2017
- All-time Olivet rankings are tied for first in triples (eight), second in batting average (.362), second in slugging percentage (.535), third in doubles (33), tied for fourth in total bases (198) and ninth in on-base percentage (.389)
- Earned 2017 All-MIAA Second Team honors
- Played in 99 career games
Clubs/organizations:
- Sigma Zeta
Academic honors/awards:
- Dean's List
- 2016-17 and 2017-18 MIAA Academic Honor Roll
Favorite baseball memory:
- Hitting the game-tying triple against Hope, and then proceeding to score the game-winning run.
Favorite non-athletic memories:
- Hooking-up as many televisions and gaming consoles as we could in the apartment and playing games with the boys.
- Breaking Dillon's remote with Ryan Rivard
Major:
- Biology with concentration in ecology and organismal science
Plans after graduation:
- Get a job and possibly earn a master's degree.
Who has supported you during your time as a student-athlete?
- My parents, Roger and Karen Gillespie
- My girlfriend, Caitlyn
Quote from head baseball coach Shelby Dixon:
- "From the time Aaron stepped on campus four years ago, he gave Olivet a much needed spark at a much needed time. From his all-conference season as a freshman to his walk-off heroics against Hope to earning the save in our first win of the 2020 season, and everything in between, the Comet baseball program was better off for having Aaron be a part of it. While there are a number of remarkable moments I could point to which demonstrate his on-field prowess, his teammates voting him to be on the leadership council in his senior season is a testament to who he is as a young man and what he brings to the world. Aaron will be sorely missed and is a tremendous ambassador of the Olivet baseball family."
Editor's Note: The COVID-19 pandemic caused the abrubt end to winter and spring sports for the 2019-20 academic year. We are not able to host Senior Day ceremonies to thank these seniors for their dedication to their chosen sport. As a result, we will be posting senior salutes like above for each senior over the coming weeks.