Kathleen Smiley '14 Recruiting Profile

When I first started playing softball at eight years old it was just something to do for fun, but then I started getting good at it and now its more of a lifestyle.  There is nothing more I want to do then play softball in college. I love a challenge and when one is given to me, I always try my hardest. I work hard at everything I do; it’s just how I am. My best attribute is my bat; I’ve been hitting 4^th in the line-up ever since I was eight. One of the most important accomplishments for me was when my travel team and I won USFA Gulf South State Champions in 2010.  It felt good to know that we were the best of 30 teams and we went through that whole tournament undefeated.  Another important accomplishment was when we came in fourth at the USFA World Series summer of 2011.  There were at least 50 teams in our 14U age group and my team and I worked extremely hard to get to third place.  The best feeling of that whole tournament was when other teams, who were already eliminated, came up to us and said things like, "We want you guys to take it all the way!" and "We're all rooting for you!" I think knowing that other teams were rooting for us fueled my team to work even harder. Although I'm only a sophomore, I try to be a leader for everyone. I enjoy helping girls on the JV team. I stay after school and help them improve their techniques. I would go to any school if it has the academic programs that I’m interested in and a competitive softball program. My preference is to go to a college in Florida or at least stay in the Southeast region of this country because the beach is always right around the corner, but I'm open to any college that will take me. I want to go to colleges like Florida Atlantic University, Florida State University, University of Central Florida and University of Florida. I would love to go to a big college but playing softball, as a freshman, at any college is my goal. I want to play at a school with the highest level of softball that my skills will allow. At my high school I take classes related to the medical field. For example: Medical Skills, Health Science, Anatomy and Physiology, by senior year we separate into our career fields and I will be taking a Sports Medicine Class.  Although I take medical related classes, my true passion is Marine Biology. I would like to major in Marine Biology. In summary, I’m passionate about everything I do, I feel like I would be a great asset to any team in sports and in life, and I look forward to discussing what I can do for your program and what your program can do for me.