On Feb. 28, seniors Addison Hudnall, Madison Fletcher and Amilee Stapp signed their national letters of intent to play collegiate softball for the first time in Emerson history. Hudnall will attend Central Christian College of Kansas, Stapp will attend Trinity Valley College and Fletcher will attend Hill College. The three student athletes are enthused to make history and to continue playing the sport that they love at the next level.
“Signing is exciting! It sets a good example for our underclassmen on where they can be,” Fletcher, 12, said. “I think it’s a very special moment for our program as a whole.”
While the signing day is truly a rewarding experience, the ultimate goal of playing college softball requires a huge amount of dedication and effort. All of the athletes’ hard work has culminated in pen and paper, as they head to college and achieve their aspirations.
“It was nerve-wracking because I felt like there was a lot of pressure [to make the right decision], but it’s exciting because there are so many other players that can come after us and sign,” Hudnall, 12, said. “I’m excited to meet new people, to be independent and to learn how to navigate being on my own in college.”
“The whole college softball process made me a little nervous, so I’m relieved to know that it’s over, now that I’ve signed. There was no one else to lean on or ask questions about the college experience., so that makes signing so much more special,” Stapp said.
The three players have built relationships with Coach McMichael, the head softball coach, and her influence on the first softball signees has been a huge part of all three of the athletes’ progression on and off the field. Coach McMichael has been not only a coach to the athletes, but someone who pushes them to be better on and off the field.
“She’s been a really great mentor and almost like a mom to me. She’s more than a coach to me … She has helped me develop as a player and as a person over these past four years,” Fletcher said.
“She’s the toughest coach I’ve ever had. She’s given me the most constructive criticism of anyone else who I’ve been coached by, but I’m grateful that I’m experiencing tough coaching now because it’s going to be the same in college,” Stapp said.
Softball has taught these athletes life lessons that can be applied in almost every situation. With signing to play collegiate softball the lessons already learned will continue to carry them as they continue their athletic careers.
“I had to learn how to trust my coach and learn how to trust others around me as well. Knowing my teammates will always be there to support me was something that I had to learn in order to be successful,” Hudnall said.
“I’ve made most of my friends through softball, so I hope to have a community around me there. I want to build what I’ve built here in college, and continue that, so I can have support and the best possible college experience,” Stapp said.
The inaugural softball signees have paved the way for those who follow in their footsteps through the Emerson softball program. Congratulations to these history-making softball players!
