Sophia Lynch '21 Recruiting Profile

When I was eleven and playing on my first non-recreational softball team, my coach came up to me and told me that he wanted me to become a catcher.  He told me that he thought I’d be good at it, and wanted to know if I’d be willing to give it a try.  I just laughed.  Catching was the one thing I had never wanted to do on a softball field.  Any position that required that much gear couldn’t be fun.  And I didn't think again of it until we were playing a league game and he came over and told me that he was putting me in at catcher next inning.  Not only had I never caught in a game before, I had never even put the gear on before.  I was furious.  But, as it turns out, I should’ve trusted him. Putting me behind the plate turned out to be the best decision he’d ever made on both of our parts.  Catching has become the thing I love most on a softball field. 

I have been so lucky to play with really great teammates and coaches. Having that opportunity showed me that the right college match will include a group of players who love softball as much as I do but are also supportive and genuine, and coaches who will push and challenge me to be my best but will also be there for me and inspire me to excel. When I was fourteen, I made one of the hardest decisions of my life when I left the team that I’d grown up with for a new, more competitive 18U team.  Although it was difficult at first, making the switch ended up being the best decision of my life. I got the chance to grow not only as a player, but as a person as well. I learned that rather than be threatened by the great players that surrounded me, I should embrace the challenge and up my game to new levels. This summer, I ended up being the only catcher because of injuries. It was a huge challenge to keep myself healthy through all the games and all the heat, but I loved it and the team did great.

Last year in school, I took my first Psychology class and immediately fell in love with the subject.  In college, I hope to be able to major in both that and English, which is my first love.  Ever since I was a kid, I’ve loved writing, whether it be essays in school or just stories that I write at home. 

Thanks for looking at my profile!