Valerie Kolstad '18 Recruiting Profile

I have grown up watching my dad, uncle, and cousins play and coach baseball and softball. I first stepped onto the field at the age of 8, and since then it has been my dream to be on a college softball team. Softball is something I love, it is a part of me. Softball has had a tremendous impact on me by making me more outgoing, confident and has helped solidify the bond between my dad and I. Through softball, I have learned what it means to work hard, have commitment, work and play with other individuals, and become physically and mentally tough. Softball has taught me to be a leader and how to balance both school and play.

Lewistown, Montana is a small rural town of about 6,500 people. Growing up in a small town, everyone knows everyone. This is awesome because we have tremendous support from our parents, teammates and community. Because of this support, I have become a leader, one that others look to for advice and help on a variety of issues. I am a role model for the young children in our community. I take this responsibility very seriously and try my hardest to uphold this role. One of the greatest honors for me is being voted varsity team captain for my sophomore and junior seasons. Both years I have been the the only non-senior ever voted to be team captain. My teammates view me as a positive leader that they look up to. My coaches see me a as a player who is committed to the sport of softball, one who will produce no matter the situation, even if I am sitting on the bench, one who will always work hard, stop the ball, and be a coachable player.

What I am looking for in a program, is one that is very supportive and positive. I am extremely passionate about softball, but also driven in the classroom. I would like my coach to be passionate, knowledgeable and supportive on and off the field. I would hope that he or she would have the ability to teach the game as well as daily life lessons. Because of my passion for softball, there is so much more that I want to learn. I am excited to continue my education at the collegiate level. I am especially excited about the new friendships and lessons I will gain through this next chapter of my life.