Anna Braukus '25 Recruiting Profile

Growing up, my dream was always to play for the MLB. Baseball was where it started for me, and I loved showing the boys that I could compete with them and be successful at it too. Once I hit kid-pitch in Little League, my family and I moved to Switzerland for an expat assignment for my dad's work. We lived in a small village in the northern region for three years. Immersing ourselves in the culture, we chose a house that was surrounded by locals, learning German from those who know it best. I have such wonderful memories of walking to the park with my family, baseball gear in hand, and working on drills with my older brother. We were determined to not lose any ground by living overseas. All while living in a history lesson for the time that we were there, we were able to find a baseball team in Zurich called the Challengers. We would take the train in for practice, baseball gear on our backs, and not a sight the locals were used to seeing. After winning a national championship, we returned back to the U.S. This was a pivotal time for me as I decided to try out softball. I realized that I loved the game as well as the comradery on the team. The fun part is that I am still able to play catch with my brother as we just switch between a baseball and a softball.  The takeaway from growing up playing baseball with my older brother's teams taught me early on that I could compete with anyone - because I loved playing ball more than most.  As I transitioned to fastpitch, my enjoyment and the desire to compete only increased.  Routinely after tournaments or long weeks filled with softball, I often come home and get back in the cage or take grounders striving to improve continuously.  I have been told by my coaches that my greatest attributes are my upbeat personality, unwavering commitment, and a great backhand deep in the hole.

Aside from my time overseas, I have attended a private school since preschool where the learning environment is based on a rigorous curriculum that incorporates a Classical education model. Most classes are Honors as a standard with many AP options. Bear Creek does not have a softball team, so I travel to my resident public high school during the season. In the fall, I played on the Varsity soccer team in my Freshman and Sophomore years as a defender. The training has helped tremendously with my agility and speed. We spend a great amount of time in the weight room in addition to being on the field. This past year was extremely special to me as we went to State and I grew in my resiliency on a different scale.

Outside of sports, I spend time volunteering for organizations that are important to me. During the pandemic, I was able to volunteer at Food Lifeline, packing food for those less fortunate. I learned about what it takes to feed a family on a weekly basis and how important it is to volunteer for such a cause. I also volunteer for Little Bit Therapeutic Riding Center where we utilize horses to aid in the development of those with disabilities. I find it fascinating how something as simple as the gait of a horse can produce such positive results in a human's health. At Little Bit, I work in a group setting with children who range from having slight learning disabilities to those who are autistic. We play games as well as work to introduce our small horses and how to appropriately behave around them. In addition to the group lessons, I also work with older children as they ride the horses for their lessons. I walk alongside them, talk to them, and ensure their safety on the horses. I have always loved animals as I have grown up with dogs in my own home, but I have never known the mystical and amazing qualities of horses. My appreciation of these equine creatures and their importance to those with disabilities has grown so much through my volunteering.

My ultimate goal is to continue to play softball at a highly competitive level. I would like to find a college where I can maintain academic rigor as well as push myself on the softball field. Playing with like-minded athletes who have a similar work ethic is extremely important to me. I believe that being the best that I can be in every facet of my life is the ultimate goal of becoming the person I am meant to be.