Kathryn Stanzel '17 Recruiting Profile

There are many goals I want to achieve, including attending college. My primary goal is to attend a college that will allow me the opportunity to play softball as well as provide me the tools to obtain a degree in the field of math/science, since those are my favorite subjects. If I could enjoy the college experience, play softball and succeed academically, that would be amazing.

    A quality that makes me an effective player and teammate is leadership. I like to lead by my actions, not my words — on the field and in my life. I talk to my teammates about the next play and let them know where I am going with the ball before the pitch has even been thrown. Another quality that makes me a good player is that I am always supporting my teammates. I try to lift them up rather than complaining about a missed play because I understand we have all been in a situation where we have made a mistake. Lifting my teammates up pulls the whole team together and makes us stronger. Lastly, I am the type of player who shows up early to practice and is the last to leave, and I ask my coach for more reps when I feel I need extra work on something.

    I love softball but I also take academics very seriously. I work hard to maintain my 4.0 GPA during the season, and I always strive to get better and learn as much as I can in school. I am also involved in my school’s tutoring program as a tutor. It makes me feel good when I can help one of my peers understand complicated topics in algebra and biology. 

    Before my freshman year (in 2013), I was mainly focused on making the varsity team for my high school. That summer, I worked my hardest on things that I needed to improve to be prepared to tryout for high school softball. Unfortunately, right after I got my varsity jersey, I dislocated my ankle and broke my fibula while sliding into third. That year was tough simply because I had to watch my teammates play and improve while I sat on the bench, not able to do anything. I found I could still be supportive by attending all practices and games and cheering on my teammates. During the three months I was on crutches, I learned how to appreciate the game more. In some ways, my injury was a good thing. I was hungrier to play and my mental game had gotten significantly better from watching so many varsity games. 

    I hope my summary gives you a glimpse into the type of student athlete I am. I have a video posted to show my skills and I hope you’ll watch it. I am always working to improve my fundamentals and become the best player I can be. 

    Thanks, Kati.