Katie Walker '18 Recruiting Profile

 Growing up in a family that played sports nonstop, I also found a love for sports, they came natural to me. My dad always, and still does, push me to be a better player and I couldn't thank him enough for that; because of him, I found my love for softball.  

    I began playing at a young age and found a love for it the more I played.  As I grew up, more things became more natural to me: like how diving for a ball used to scare me in middle school but now it's just reaction and I find it exhilarating!  Playing softball for a long time made me realize that if a coach asks me to try a new position, or keep my hands back more when hitting, I would do so; I'm a very coachable kid who is always up for new challenges and ways to better myself.  I entered my freshman year of high school only knowing how to pitch and play third, but as a sophomore I played almost every position at least once and ended up being chosen as the 1st Team All Conference Utility player that year. 

    Growing up around sports, and loving them just as much as my family, has inspired me to try to carry sports on in a future career; an athletic trainer is my goal, but I've also been told that one day I'd make a good coach, so that's also a side career that I'd love to do as well; helping kids who love sports as much as I do, and giving them more drive to work towards their goals is something very dear to me and definitely something I want to be apart of.

    At the age of 9, I was diagnosed with anxiety, overcoming that has been the hardest obstacle of my life, but also my most rewarding accomplishment of all.  Anxiety held me back from doing so many things I wanted to do and it especially affected the way I played sports: I was terrified of making a mistake, which resulted in me... making mistakes.  After making varsity softball my freshman year, and earning the 1st Team Utility as a sophomore definitely boosted my confidence as an athlete.  The anxiety has then gone to a minimum and I have never felt so proud of myself.