NCSA caught up with rising softball star Cary Thereon to discuss her high school career and the opportunity to compete at the next level.
NCSA: What motivates you before a big game?
Thereon: I usually tend to motivate myself before a game. I don't have anything specific that I do such as watching a movie, listening to a song, praying, etc. When I get out on the field to start stretching and warming up, I know it's time to focus and I clear my mind of everything but softball. I also take my warm-ups just as serious as the game itself. Warm up 100%, so you can play 110%.
NCSA: What are you looking forward to if and when you get the opportunity to play at the collegiate level?
Thereon: There are so many things that I am looking forward to when playing at the collegiate level. I am excited about the opportunity to continue playing as well as to improve myself as an athlete and as a person. I also look forward to meeting new people and developing relationships that I will keep up with - hopefully - after college.
NCSA: Why did you get involved in softball?
Thereon: There isn't a specific reason why I started playing softball. I used to be a dancer and I played soccer and basketball. I was never interested in softball. One day I just decided that I wanted to play and I fell in love with the game, so I stuck with it.
NCSA: Tell us about your interactions with college coaches so far.
Thereon: Oh my goodness. Letters galore! I come home from school everyday and have a new stack of letters waiting for me on the table. I have heard from so many schools that I never even knew existed. Starting this year I have also been receiving phone calls, which I enjoy.
NCSA: How does your team look for this season?
Thereon: This fall my club team hasn't really played many games. We played twice and I was on college visits both days, figures. We have mostly just been practicing, and getting together as a team to hang out and get to know each other. We had a pizza party last week and we had a Wii tennis tournament. Personally, I have been going to Acceleration (Get Fast). It is intense. They have these high-tech treadmills that they use to increase athletes' speed. They increase leg strength, speed and agility. I absolutely love going there; it's fun but hard at the same time. I am also in strength and conditioning PE class, so I am in the weight room three times a week strengthening my arms.
NCSA: What are your goals athletically, academically and in your community for the rest of the school year?
Thereon: I am a very good student, so my goal is to continue getting good grades and to work hard in all my classes. I want to improve my class rank a little, even though they don't call you up by class rank at graduation, to me it is important. Athletically- this year I would like to be the starting pitcher for the high school team and I would like to improve my pitching, hitting, fielding, everything. I just added a new pitch to my regime, the drop which I haven't thrown since probably freshman year. I would also like to increase my speed so I can run out a few more grounders. Over the summer I hope to do the same. I intend to continue to improve myself as a player by working hard.
NCSA: Tell us about what you've learned since being with NCSA.
Thereon: I have learned so many things from NCSA. First and foremost, they have taught me to market myself. You can't expect college coaches to do everything, you have to put forth effort as well; coaches want to hear from you. A coach will, most likely, have more interest in you if you write them a letter one month and follow up the next month because they know you have an interest in them. You don't always have to initiate the contact, but it is a VERY good idea. I have also learned the right questions to ask when talking to a coach on the phone, or when visiting a coach. That is very helpful because you don't want to jump onto a topic, such as scholarships/money, which could turn the coach off. For me, the biggest take-away is the whole experience in general. From setting up my profile, sending it out to coaches, getting e-mails, letters and phone-calls, visiting the NCSA office (since I have the luxury of living close enough), visiting schools, and now down to my final stages of recruitment. It has been a great experience, learning how the whole process works and having people available to help me with the biggest decision in my life so far. NCSA is great :)
