Sydney Strong '22 Recruiting Profile

T-Ball is where my love of the game started.  I remember running towards third base instead of first, luckily I learned that was not right. I also remember I learned how to throw a ball with rolled up socks, and the coach let us practice accuracy with water balloons.  Softball has been my favorite sport for years now. I've tried as many as possible, but the ball sports stuck with me.  I knew it was my favorite sport when my coach told me that I was the leader of the team and it was my job to communicate and talk to everyone in an uplifting way. I love the team aspect of the sport, it's not about 'me,' it's about 'we.'  As a freshman I made JV volleyball, Varsity basketball, and I got the starting catching spot on the Varsity softball team.  

My dream would be to play softball at the next level. I am open to any division and any school across the country that feels like the right fit.  I just want the opportunity to make more teammates after I retire my jersey on senior night. I have learned that I am a leader through playing softball, I cheer on others and encourage my teammates to do their absolute best, and always look to the next play or the next at bat.  I've learned about grit while battling through hitting slumps and tough games and have figured out that hard work is how I'll achieve my goals. Over the years I've played all over the field. In minors I was a pitcher, but gymnastics took up lots of time and pitching required more practice than I had time for. Coach moved me to shortstop for a few years because I was quick on my feet, had an arm and talked to the team between every play.  My travel ball coach decided he wanted me to become a catcher. I was terrified, but wanted to face the challenge and see if I could be as fierce as the catchers I had seen seemed to be.  Now I enjoy seeing the field and and helping my team from that position. 

Academically I would like to major in Business, I think that it is a broad degree and it will help me get a good job or take after my folks and start my own business in the real world after college is over. I'm taking several honors and AP classes and enjoy the pace of those classes.  It gets challenging as one sports season rolls into the next and I have learned that time management is the key to keeping up grades and playing time. 

I am from Alaska, and that makes everything a little different.  We play on dirt softball fields because of the weather conditions in a temperate rain forest.  Sometimes its 70 and sunny, and sometimes it's 40 with wind and rain.  Our games don't get cancelled for rain until the fields become unusable.  When we travel it's on a jet or a ferry.  We don't have roads in or out of our town so I learned how to travel early.  Everything is at least an overnight.  For travel ball, we leave for a 10 day stretch so we can go to 2 tournaments before coming home.  We leave our cool rainy weather and dive into 4 games a day in 80 degrees and up.  Its quite the adjustment but always worth it.

 I am excited to see where college takes me and I cannot wait to play at the next level.