Olivia Tautges '22 Recruiting Profile

My goal is to become the best softball player possible, along with learning life lessons that will stay with me forever. I grew up playing softball but didn't realize how much I loved it until my first varsity year. The part I love about the game is how intense it can get, and how much you have to rely on your team to win. As a player on a smaller town team, I really prioritize grit, hard work, facing adversity, and being optimistic.  On September 3rd, 2020, I went through an ACL injury. All doctors told me that it would take a minimum of 9 months to be cleared, meaning I would miss my softball season. That was devastating to hear, but I started taking lifting seriously and did PT exercises as much as I could. This process was not easy by any means, and I had to sit out of all sports for the time being. The hard work paid off, and I was fully cleared to play softball 5 and a half months after surgery. Though the injury caused one of the hardest times of my life, it also showed how much I love the game of softball, and how deep I was willing to go for the sport.