By: John Franklin
Q: How has your experience as a James Caldwell High School softball player benefited you in your high school career?
A. Being part of the softball program has really benefited me through high school, I learned a lot from the older players about the importance of playing as a team, how to be a good leader for younger players, and how hard work really pays off. I have also made some great friends every year. It made high school fun, because I look forward to playing with my team every day.

Q: How do you expect this season to go?
A. I expect some really great things this season. We have almost our entire team from last year with us, and we’re better than ever. Every girl on the team has a great bat, we’ve had numerous home-runs, and based on how our scrimmages have been, we are definitely going to be a tough team to beat. We are going to play a lot of good teams in our conference, but our number one goal for this season is to win another state title.

Q: What will you miss the most about being a Chief softball player when this season ends?
A. There are two things I am going to miss most about being a Chief softball player, my coaches and my team. Coach Mike and Mark Teshkoyan have been so supportive all four years and have taught me some lessons I’ll never forget, especially the importance of team bonding and how it can lead to success. The girls that I am playing with will make it hard to say goodbye. The seniors who I have played with forever are some of the hardest workers and we share memories that I will take through college and the rest of my life.

Q: What is your most memorable moment of playing softball for JCHS?
A. My most memorable moment would be winning the state sectional in 2011. When we beat Rutherford, I remember running to home plate to celebrate. We stayed at the field so long after the game ended to take pictures, and because we were too excited to leave. I felt honored to share the field with those girls, and I was so proud to be a part of that team.

Q: What is the one thing you would tell a person to do to have the success that you have had throughout high school?
A. My advice to anyone who wants to achieve success in high school is to work hard and hustle. A quote that I have used for motivation these past four years is, “Success always looks easy to those who weren’t around when it was being earned. The harder you work at practice the more success you will have in games, and as long as you give it everything you have and hustle you’ll have nothing to regret.” High school goes a lot faster than you think so take advantage of every opportunity so that you can leave high school with some great memories.

Q: Who is the person who inspired you the most throughout your life?
A. My dad has definitely been my inspiration throughout my life. He is a coach himself, and he knows what hard work looks like and he taught me that as long as I work hard, someone will notice. He has motivated to do my best and take advantage on every opportunity that I am given. He saw my love and hard work for softball, and how serious I was about it. Without him, I would not have been able to achieve my goal of playing in college. Knowing that I have made him proud and achieved my goal makes every second of hard work worth it.

We wish Rachel the best of luck in her last season in a chief uniform, and look forward to hearing her name as one of the key players for the Ave Maria University Gyrenes.