Danika Saddoris '26 Recruiting Profile

As long as I can remember softball has been a part of my life.  My parents played slow pitch when I was born and my older sister played ASA.  I remember watching all of my sisters games and analyzing the plays and the movements.  I would reenact what I had watched and even started pitching at 4 years old.  I would throw the ball to my dad during all of the games and hurt my dads arm from doing it so often.  When I was 8 my parents decided to let me try out for a travel team actually I tried out for two of them.  Since then I have played every fall, spring, and summer taking as little amounts of breaks off as possible.  I have such a love for the game that it makes me a better player and team member.  I am dedicated to bettering myself and my teammates, I also am coachable and determined to be the best version of myself.

When COVID started my family took a trip to the Gulfarium in Destin, FL and I was introduced to marine biology.  I had never really thought about what I wanted to do when I got older partly because my parents didn't focus on the future so much as they focused more on the present and what you can do to be better today.  I watched the dolphin show and told my mom and sister I wanted to do what they are doing.  My mom encouraged me to speak to the trainers and ask them what it took to do what they do.  They explained to me that a degree in Marine Biology or Oceanology is the way to go.  With my love of the game and my love of the science behind the marine life I feel I would be a great fit for your program!