LoriAnne Baugh '18 Recruiting Profile

April 24, 2012 Rylee Jo Dill was born to the most amazing and loving people I know, Nathan and Mandi Dill. She celebrated her 4^th birth this year.  During birth the cord became wrapped around her neck and she couldn’t breathe leading to severe brain damage. However, recently the doctor’s discovered after many tests Rylee has a De Novo R266W mutation of the EEF1A2G gene. The mutation of that gene causes delays, epilepsy, microcephaly, low muscle tone, certain facial features, as well as autism. She had feeding difficulties and seizure - like activities requiring brain ultra sounds. There is a high probability she will never walk, talk or be able to use her limbs like an average / healthy person.  Rylee will never be able to tell her mom she loves her and cover her face with sweet kisses.

Ever since Rylee was born, I have helped take care of her: changing diapers, performing physical therapy, administrating meds and working her feeding tube.  This beautiful child has influenced me as a person and an athlete; children like her will never be able to get to do the things that I get to do. God has given me a gift and it is important that I respect that gift.  She has inspired me to give back, to work harder by overcoming obstacles, and to pursue a career in nursing.

            I developed a love for sports at a young age.  My mom said I had way too much energy and quickly enrolled me into soccer at the age of 4.  It’s been love at first goal and I now play LHGCL D1 soccer on Sting ’99 North Garrett along with varsity high school soccer; however soccer did not come without its challenges.  I was always the small kid on the field which usually did not give me the advantage over bigger players.  I was passed over by coaches time after time, however I did not give up and it paid off.  Coach Emma and Coach Garrett came along and they saw something in me that no other coach in my past had.  Coach Emma saw my heart on and off the field and always told me, “It's not the size of the dog in the fight, it's the size of the fight in the dog.” – Mark Twain.  He told me I play with more heart than most players he has coached in the past and that will take me far.  Coach Garrett told me, “You already know you’re a small player so I don’t have to remind you, however I am going to show you as a small player how to play bigger players and win.” By these two coaches taking a chance on me I have excel and grown as a person / player.  In 2014 I hit a huge growth spurt and I am no longer the smallest player on the team, but I do continue to work hard to excel in my speed/agility and skills.

My mom always tells me, “The world is your oyster, so go collect those pearls.” My first pearl would be to achieve a high school GPA of 3.5 or better when I graduate. I make sure to study hard, ask questions frequently and stay after school for tutoring as needed.  For my future, I would love to pursue a career in nursing and I have aligned the last two years of high school according.  My steps beyond that are making sure my college of choice prepares me for a strong career in nursing so I can be the best I can be.  I look forward to a future of giving back and helping out people.

What sets me apart from others? Well, what does set me apart from others? I tend to ask myself that question often. I have many answers; my personality, the way I treat others, the way I think of myself, and the way I act, but I believe that the most outstanding quality that sets me apart from others is my belief in Christ.  Through Christ and the guidance of my parents, I have learned not to judge by what I see on the outside, but to dig deeper, to look at a person’s heart and I will truly be blessed with an amazing gift. 

Overall, I consider myself a hard worker, very dedicated person. I’m motivated by challenges and I can gain personal benefits from new experiences. Some people live their lives without purpose or focus, but I know what my purpose is and I'm focused on pursuing it.