Kaitlyn Gumina '11 Recruiting Profile

I am Kaitlyn May Gumina and ever since I can remember I've wanted to play softball for the rest of my life. Weather it is in college professional, or even USA Olympic Team. I know those are some big dreams, but it's something I am very passionate about. It's my second love. I mean my faith and relationship with God comes first. Unless the good Lord tells me otherwise, I would love to play college softball. When I step on to that field I feel like it's what God made me to do. You probably hear this all the time, but I am serious about this. I love it so much, that it wouldn't matter if I didn't play in college, professionally, or the USA Olympic Team, as long as I am playing it somewhere and I am happy. I am 5'4, weigh 140 lbs and only 2% body fat, it's pretty much all muscle, which is probably from all the sports I participated in growing up. I never really got into lifting, you can say it's all natural. When I do it's not to get bigger just to keep in shape and strengthen my weak areas. I played almost every sport possible growing up and worked hard at all of them. I didn't find a sport I couldn't do. When I got to High School I narrowed it down to two, softball and volleyball. I still do volleyball because it helps my softball skills and I enjoy the sport. I didn't want to take the risk of falling behind in school or putting so much stress physical and emotionally on myself by playing other sports. I mean I wouldn't want to take the risk of hurting myself in contact sports and not be able to play softball. I played softball for ten years on Summer Leagues and High school. I would play all year round if I could. If my parents had the money I would play traveling teams as well, but as long as I played it didn't matter. I would have played for eleven years, but between the years of 8th grade and 9th grade, I couldn't play. I was to old to play Summer League and I wasn't able to play high school. I even tried to play baseball because I was able to because they had changed the age for them, but not us. I wasn't able to play because I was a girl, this little town is sexist. This just makes me want to work even harder at Softball to prove them wrong, to show them I can do anything I set my mind to. I know they are two different sports, but if you can play softball, you can play baseball, but not vice vera. It is way harder to hit a softball pitch then a baseball. Well not being able to play that year and especially right before high school, I was devastated. I didn't think I be able to make it on the Varsity Team, but I did. I even played over returning letter men. When my couch told me that I was little far behind on batting from the rest of them. I cried, but then I asked how can improve. I caught myself working Harder then everyone else, just to be at the same level as the rest of my team. I find myself in class doing the footsteps, just sitting in my seat. Every second I could, I be practicing my swing at practice, at home, and even any other place I could. I didn't give up and I never will. I show great Integrity, Severing, Teamwork, and Excellence. I believe those are the most important characteristics in an Athlete. Also, hard worker and good sportsmanship which I won an award for, The Tiger Award. I go in there knowing that I am not going to get the position I really want. I ask the couch where do you want me and what I am best at. I use all my heart to work my best and give it my all. I am the first one off the bench to give my teammates a high five, I even stand up and clap for them, even if they didn't do their best. Just going out there and trying deserves a recommendation, I would love for my team mates to do that for me to, so why not start it. Being able to make your team mates smile even though they feel like crying makes me feel better. I have a BIG HEART. I have five choices for college based on my academic and athletic interests. Northwestern University, Arizona State University, Spring Arbor University, Bowling Green University, and Cederville University, but I am keeping my options open. I want to go to college in Chicago, because I wouldn't mind living there. My academic interests are Aerospace Engineer or Engineering and Physicist. I like math and science. I like being able to help people by finding the easiest and cheapest way to do things. I guess you can say I am a little Amelia Earhart, I like flying, adventure, and being able to do things just as good as a man can. That's a little bit about me, thank you for your time reading this. I promise you won't be disappointed.