Illinois Storm Elite - 2021
I Welcome Failure
Since I was a kid, I dreamed of teaching others the greatest sport in the world. This summer I had a taste of that dream and it’s changed my philosophy on not only softball but life. I cannot thank the Illinois Storm Elite softball team enough for allowing me the opportunity to share my knowledge and love for the game.
Absolutely nothing compares to the spark in their eyes as they gained more and more confidence throughout the season. Softball is a game of failure, no matter how much time and practice you put in you are going to fail. But how you fail is what you have control over. The pressure of failure can be overwhelming, especially at a young age. Young athletes work to please their parents and receive approval from their coaches, which increases the pressure by ten-fold. Trust me, it’s a destructive thought process. My goal with these girls was welcome failure and to not play for anyone other than their love of the game (which isn’t a person!)
Fail. Fail as much as you can, but fail while giving it your absolute everything every single time. This way you learn how to face adversity and grow into a better athlete and individual. These girls accomplished this goal time and time again, which lead them to being one of the best 12U teams in USSSA.
Don’t play for someone who doesn’t get it. Don’t try to please someone with your performance, you will hit a wall and crumble. Play for your teammates and give them your all. This doesn’t mean playing to please them it means giving all of your effort and ability on the field and in the dugout for them.
My greatest accomplishment with these girls wasn’t taking 3rd in the USSSA Florida National Tournament or going to 5 straight championships. No, those didn’t even come close. My greatest accomplishment is stepping back and knowing that they finally get it. They finally get that winning isn’t everything when they’re on a team that believes so much in one another.
Thank you to the girls, the parents, and the coaches for making this the best summer of my life and a memory I will cherish for the rest of my life. Because of you girls I now have a new love for this game that no one can take away from me. Because of you girls I know that all of my own years of adversity, failure, and hard work has been well worth the blood, sweat, tears, and pain.
And one more thing for my girls:
You are here, in this spot right here, for a reason. Close your eyes, take a breath, and embrace this moment. You are the absolute best there is for this moment and there is no one better to get the job done. Now open your eyes and believe in yourself. Because I have faith that you can do it and so do your teammates. Anyone beyond that doesn’t matter. Go out there and believe.
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Thank you to the Illinois Storm Elite for giving me my love for softball back.
Adversity
Injury and I are anything but friends; however, it has been my greatest teacher over the years. Over the course of my entire athletic career, I have been on the receiving end of 20 major injuries. Seven of which have occurred during my college softball career. From dislocated shoulders to pulled hamstrings, I am no stranger to pain. I am all too familiar with the sidelines, broken hearts, and endless frustration. Despite the number of seas I have filled with my tears, I learned something deeper about myself behind every injury. My passion for the sport of softball grew with day I stood to the side, with every conversation I had with my teammates, and with every new rehab process I was introduced to. Through every injury I learned to love the process of growth. I fell in love with the thought of failure because through every fall was an opportunity to succeed.
Hobbies
Writing
Hiking & Outdoors
Photography
Reading & Research
Goodbye Softball
June 2022
I used to question why God put me in positions I thought I couldn’t handle: injury, loss, hurt, etc. But each time I walked into a hard season I came out stronger and wiser than before. The harder things got, with each moment the stronger I became. Don’t be mistaken, there were times during my 4 years at IWU I felt I literally could not make it through. When I lost perspective and my heart began to waver, God reminded me time and time again that He uses everything for a reason even if I don’t always know what that reason is. It’s not wasted time, it’s a lesson, it’s growth. Sometimes we’re better off not knowing because it builds patience and dependence on God. I don’t regret not knowing I would only have one full season of softball. I don’t regret not knowing I’d go through injury after injury after injury. I don’t regret not knowing I’d go through endless pain and doubt. I don’t regret the difficult seasons one bit. I learned to be content with what God has for me because, truthfully, it’s for the best. It might take 4 years, it might take 15, to see the why behind your struggles…but I promise God sure does make all things beautiful in it’s time (Ecc. 3:11).
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If you’re ever doubting if God hears your prayer…if you’re ever doubting if He sees your pain…He is answering your prayers. He is counting every tear that falls from your eyes. He knows how important your prayers are for whatever it is you’re asking. Believe me when I say this…God answers. It might take 4 years but never stop praying. Don’t give up on what you’re praying for. God is working on it.
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Now my time rolling around in the dirt may be over, but softball isn’t done for me just yet. My heart is sad to be hanging up my cleats but overjoyed to be taking my next steps. There are a lot of changes coming my way in the next few weeks…I will finally be getting labrum surgery, I will be coaching my last travel season, I’ll be taking on GM roles at a new strength training facility, then in a month and a half I’ll be taking off for Kansas to finally begin the career that God has prepared me for. My shoes may be changing but the field is where my heart is staying
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#34 isn’t done just yet…