With 17 state titles, six state runner-ups, and still holding the crown from last year, making an appearance in the Monarch softball line up is not an easy task.
Freshmen walk onto the field surrounded by the best of the best; however, the competition within their own team makes them strong enough to carry on the skillful reputation the team has built for itself.
“So far we are looking really good,” freshman Alexa Harms said. “I’m excited for the rest of the season.”
The softball team’s past success has led to very high standards, but with the right mindset the team is able to come up with goals to make sure they continue to thrive with the competition presented.
“For this season our team goals are to make it back to Omaha,” Harms said. “Our motto this year is CNC -play confident not cocky.”
Getting to play with the upperclassmen can be overwhelming and scary with all the new beginnings high school brings, but the benefits of working with knowledgeable seniors can outweigh any doubts.
“I get the experience of what it is like to not be treated like a freshman and knowing what it will be like for the next year’s freshman,” freshman Allison Dibelka said.
With the great record the softball team has had, the team has to ensure they stick together to become an even better team than before.
“We are a very close hardworking group so making sure we continue that is so important,” Harms said. “We all push and challenge each other to be the best we can.”
This year’s confidence in the team is able to carry them into practice to work hard and achieve what they have done so many times before.
“We are really focusing on being fearless and focusing on our strong points like our defense and getting better as a team,” Dibelka said.
With the seniors once being in these same young mindsets they are able to relate and pass down important tactics to success.
“We plan to keep building the team up by remembering how well the seniors taught us,” Harms said. “Then when it is our turn to welcome the younger players into the program we can be positive leaders to them.”
The softball team’s tradition will be continued as they introduce two freshmen that will carry the team’s legacy on for the next four years. With the upperclassmen leaving footprints in the dirt, it is time for the class of 2028 to step up and fill their cleats.
