Northwestern University Athletics
"How You Respond" - By Sydney Supple
4/13/2022 6:48:00 PM | Softball
We are all on this journey together. Individually and collectively we have learned so much about ourselves in this past week of games.
The sign of a great team is how they respond. This weekend, we responded loudly.
Heading into Ohio State our simple goal was this: be the hardest working team on the field every single inning. That work showed by scoring in 12 out of 20 innings, including NINE HOME RUNS between six players with Jordyn Rudd having three herself, one in each game. Don't get me wrong all nine home runs were incredible in their own right, but one was uniquely special. Skyler Shellmyer hit her first-career collegiate home run on a power slap.
For those who know Skyler, it is impossible not to love her. She has an infectious energy that can't be replicated, and I have witnessed firsthand how she pours her heart into this program. Watching her round the bases, you could see her glossy eyes and know what this moment meant to her. You can also see in our team's reaction just a glimpse of how much she means to our team.
SKYLER SHELLMYER. YARD. ????@skymy08 launches her first-career home run to get us fired up in the fourth! ????#GoCats | #BeRemarkable pic.twitter.com/jkkpZMI0zg
— Northwestern Softball (@NUSBcats) April 8, 2022
When we entered the Big Ten portion of our season, we thought it would be the end of doubleheaders...well the joke is on us as. We are 3-for-3 with doubleheaders in weekend series so far. However, it didn't matter that we had to play fourteen straight innings on Sunday, no one was going to work harder than us.
I believe it is time to give credit where credit is due as to why our team is able to be the most physical ones on the field and outlast other teams– that is because of the man who runs the weight room, T-Man (Tyler Jorgensen). Our team has been so physically prepared for this reason, solely because of the work done in the weight room and the demands Tyler holds us to, day-in and day-out. All fall, he preached about us competing for a Big Ten Championship before each lift and reminded us of the work we had to put in starting in September for it to reap the rewards in April. We are in the position we are today because of the investment he has put in us and the commitment we have each made to the weight room.
This weekend, we face Purdue for another opportunity to play on our field in front of the best fans in the Big Ten!
See you at The J this weekend!
Sincerely,
Sydney Supple #26
