Avery Olafson '20 Recruiting Profile

I grew up in the same household as my grandpa. My grandpa has a very strong love for the game of baseball and ever since I was born has showed me how to love it. Since I was about 3 years old I have been learning and watching baseball. I was fascinated by the game and when I found out I could play it in a different form I was amazed. Ever since I began playing softball at the age of about 5 or 6 I have been taught that if you are going to be involved in something you always do it 100% or you simply do not do it at all. Since that moment I have never let up a day in my life in softball. If I struggled with something then I learned how to be better. And then when I got better I learned and worked to be the best. I work to always be better than I was yesterday. Softball is something that I love in extreme amounts. It has been the one thing that has always been there for me through good and bad. There is no aspect of baseball or softball that I do not love. There is no part of practice that I groan at when coach tells us to do so. Because I love it, all of it and nothing could ever change that. This past year I went through something that was a traumatic. In a softball game I was stealing 3rd base and I slid into the baseball and tore my ACL, meniscus, and sprained my MCL. The following days after that injury my mom described the tone in the house as if someone had died. I was unable to do my favorite thing in the entire world. I played in games 9 out of 12 months of the year. And I practiced and worked in all 12. Suddenly I was told I was going to need a surgery that made me unable to play softball for 9 months at least. Watching my teammates play without me drove me insane. Not being able to put on a uniform and step on the field killed me. I helped and taught my teammates with things they struggled with and at the same time taught myself things. In the time I was unable to play softball I helped coach 10 and 12 year old softball. I did my best to make sure those girls loved every minute they were there. I also umpired 1st -4th grade baseball and softball recreation leagues. Lower level teams that we were encouraged to help and motivate players. In those experiences I learned a lot. I am currently on my almost 7th month of recovery and I feel as if this injury was a curse and a blessing. Tearing my ACL has taught me that if something means the world to you, you will do anything in your power to get it back. I work out several times a week in the weight room and the days that I am not there I practice softball in my yard and do workouts at home. Coming back from an ACL injury has been extremely difficult when it comes to strength. I have progressed in large amounts and have became much stronger. It is difficult but every bit of pain that comes along the way is completely worth it to me. If I can be back on the field again I will do anything to get myself there. I will return to my favorite sport on January 16th. The doctors say that I am progressing very well and should have no problem getting there. Now I am counting down the days until I can step on the field again. Until then it’s comeback time. 

Avery Olafson