Ashlyn Hemm '21 Recruiting Profile

My whole life I have strived to be the best version of myself. This applies to academics, athletics, and other extracurriculars.  I can be described as a type A personality; I am a leader, I have many high-achieving goals, and I strive for perfection from myself. 

While all this is true, I still recognize and rely on the importance of team work. Softball cannot be won or lost by just one person. Even though pitchers have wins and losses in their stats, they can't do it without their teammates. You have to trust your defense behind you, and offense has to score runs to win. One of the things that makes softball my favorite sport is the camaraderie and teamwork. Every player is essential in winning the game. 

My freshman year I was pulled up to play varsity. In May before the start of the season I took a picture of the varsity softball records board and decided which records I was aiming to break. That season I broke the school record of strikeouts in a single season with 230 strikeouts, beating the previous record of 191. I also received the Quad City Dispatch Pacesetter, QC All Area Team, and Pitcher 1st Team All Conference. Sophomore year my goal was the career strikeout record, previously 306. I ended that season with a total of 373 career strikeouts, with two more years of high school softball to go. Once again I was awarded Quad City Dispatch Pacesetter, QC All Area Team, Pitcher 1st Team All Conference, along with being voted team captain for next season. Junior year I was ready to come out and be a great leader and I had my eyes on the ERA record at 1.20. I just missed it the previous year with an ERA of 1.28. Then disappointment struck. Junior softball season cancelled by Coronavirus. However, I will continue to work during the summer and off season with my travel ball team, QC Firebirds 03, and I will come out my senior season and beat those remaining records. I will still be a captain and I hope I get another shot at being an encouraging leader to those in my grade and younger. There is always something else to strive towards and I will continue to set high standards and goals for myself and my teammates. 

My main collegiate goal is to be able to continue playing the sport I have loved since I was 8, and keep displaying my hard work on the field and in the classroom. I hope I can become part of a supportive and challenging program like the ones I am in now, that will push me to be my best self while still allowing me to enjoy the experience and sport.