USF Athletics

Behind Home Plate: Meet the Newcomers!

October 25, 2017

Senior catcher Morgan Gross will be writing a year-long blog, letting readers in on the behind-the-scenes action of USF Softball. From fall practices, to preparing for spring and much more, Morgan will give an inside look on the team and season. Morgan is a mass communications major and is currently a digital media and marketing intern with USF Athletics. Here's her view from behind home plate:
 

"Surround yourself with people that reflect who you want to be
and how you want to feel, energies are contagious."
—Rachel Wolchin— 

 
Looking around the ballpark Friday, October 13^th, an excitement overwhelmed me. The week leading up to that night, gave me goose bumps thinking about our team's future. The atmosphere at practices, workouts, games, anything with all of us there really is electric. Every team-related event, I catch myself being a fly on the wall, taking in the energy that we all bring to the room and observing what makes this team so energizing.
 
I have not had this much fun in my last three years at USF. The support for each other is remarkable. There is a genuine love and care for each other and a desire to push the girl next to you to be the best they can be. This loose, fun, and compassionate environment is going to take us far, you can see it if you watch how we interact on and off the field.
 
We have seven new Bulls and I wanted to give you an inside look of who they are before you see them out on the field. We have five freshmen and two transfers this year so let me introduce you to our newbies!
 
First, Madison Epperson, a first baseman from Tampa, FL. Madi smashes the ball and I am excited to see her grow over her time at USF. She is an Accounting major and always has a smile on her face. Her favorite memory so far on the team is watching our fellow USF sports teams at athlete for athlete events. "I'm looking forward to having an awesome season with my new sisters and to take away important lessons and values that will help me in life," Madi told me.
 
If Madi could be any animal, she would be a dog because they're always in a good mood and who can say no to a dog! We are going to take a vote on whom the newbies think is the worst dancer on the team or who the funniest player on the team is. Madi thinks that Brooke Leistl is the worst dancer and the funniest player. Brooke scores 1 point for both.
 
 
Georgina Corrick is a pitcher from Sanford, Fla., but don't let her fool you. She has some crazy hot hands for a pitcher, which explains why she is a utility player for us. Some of the infielders call her "Javy Baez," the infielder for the Cubs. Georgina is on the Great Britain National team with Lauren Evans. She is an English citizen because both her parents are also English citizens. She is a goofball. She sends me funny vines all the time with weird frogs singing and we both dance like complete weirdos around the field at practice. She never fails to make me laugh!
 
Her major is Marine Biology and she wants to save sharks one day. Her favorite memory as a Bull is the first time we practiced on the field. "Ever since I committed, I've always been watching from the other side of the fence. It was pretty thrilling to finally feel like I was part of the team instead of just a fan," Georg told me. Georgina thinks that the funniest player on the team is a tie between freshmen Mim or Jasmine. "I became good friends with them at the official and we stayed in contact until we all came here. Mim and I both have a super nerdy sense of humor, and Jasmine and I can literally just start saying something and crack each other up. However, a couple of the older girls and I have some inside jokes and we can make each other laugh about the stupidest stuff," Georgina said. So we will give Mim and Jasmine a point each.
 
Jasmine Haynes is an outfielder from Ocala, Fla. She is very hardworking and covers a lot of ground in the outfield with her speed. She is another one of our loud, crazy, goofballs on the team, but is a blast to be around. She is always smiling, laughing and sleeping in the locker room. Her favorite memory is our team dinner that we had at the beginning of the semester at Amber Atkinson's house, where we all met each other and brought food to share.
 
She is a Psychology major and if she could be any animal, she would be a panda bear because "all they do is sleep, eat and chill, which is my ultimate goal," she told me. Hints why she is always sleeping in the locker room. She is really looking forward to becoming close with the team this upcoming year. Her vote for the funniest player and worst dancer goes to Brooke Leistl so she leads us so far with 2 votes!
 
Kyndall Williams is a middle infielder from Trenton, Fla. Kyndall loves to work out and eats very healthy. She told me to try the dark chocolate Kodiak flapjacks, fantastic suggestion because they are amazing! If she could be anyone in the world she would be Christina Aguilera because her voice is heavenly and she wishes she could sing like that. She is a Health Science major and is looking forward to getting some wins with the team and seeing how far we will go this season.
 
Her most memorable experience at USF so far was our welcome back dinner at Amber Atkinson's house. "It was fun to get the whole team together to eat and bond and be goofy. Also, football games have been very fun with the team." Kyndall told me. Fun fact, she is a twin! Her vote also goes to Brooke Leistl for funniest player. "She makes her own self laugh, which in turn makes everyone else around her laugh. She's always upbeat and happy too. Her dancing is not the best but she makes it look good," she said, so Brooke gets another point!
 
Miriam Schmoll is a pitcher from Bradenton, Fla. Mim is the sweetest girl when you talk to her and has shown us over the past two games that after a pay off pitch, she fist bumps! We all erupt with excitement every time she does this! We love it. Her favorite memory is playing on the field in her first game because the atmosphere was breathtaking. She is eager to build close bonds with everyone on the team and rack up the wins!
Mim is a Communications Sciences and Disorders major with a concentration in language speech and hearing with a minor in applied behavior analysis. Mim is a blast to work with in the bullpen and cracks me up off the field. She barely spoke the first weeks around the team and now, she is cracking people up left and right. She also is a goofball. We say funny things with accents and dance in the cold tub together.
 
Her full name is Miriam, which I asked if it was okay to call her, but I love cheering out, "MIRIAM," while she hits or pitches. I think it is the perfect name for her. If she could be any animal it would be a liger because it is a lion and tiger all in one. Mim thinks the funniest player and worst dancer is yet again, Brooke Leistl. She leads the team with 4 votes so far.
 
Nicole Doyle is a pitcher from Aurora, Ohio. She is a junior transfer from Southern Illinois. Nic is a Marketing major looking forward to make the best of every moment and making memories at USF. Oh, and "GETTING THAT RING and being NATTY CHAMPS," I should add. Nic is another sweetheart. She is very hardworking and cracks me up. She loves the refreshing environment around and loves the beach. My favorite memory with Nic was going to the Dallas Bull and the Jason Aldean concert with her and some other teammates. As a die-hard country fan myself, it was a blast to line dance and sing our hearts out to country music together!
 
If she could be anyone in the world it would be her mom. "She is the most beautiful woman on the inside and out. I hope to be just like her some day," Nic said. Nicole has already improved tremendously in the first weeks of fall. I am very excited for her personal growth as well as many more memories that we will make together. She is a very kind and genuine person who always supports her fellow teammates. Fun fact, she is also a twin! Her vote for worst dancer without a doubt is Bethaney Keen.
 
Macy Cook is a junior transfer catcher from Wright State. She is from Hartville, Ohio and is a Criminology major and hopes to get into the FBI one day because of her addiction to Criminal Minds. "I think so far the most exciting part about USF is playing with girls with such great talent and the level of coaching that the program has. It really is a dream come true to be able to play for such an amazing program. I could have never imagined as a kid that I would have the opportunity to be a Bull. I get to challenge my skills everyday because the level of talent that is surrounding me. So far, I have one game under my belt and I think the feeling I had the first game will only get better as spring comes." Macy told me.
 
I really enjoy catching alongside Macy. She brings a new pair of eyes to our bullpen and is like a sponge when it comes to learning new information. She has a very dry sense of humor and keeps me laughing with her delivery of lines. She also has a sensitive and goofball side that fits in perfect with our team. She is eager to win a ring and making it to the College World Series this season. I enjoy learning from Macy as well as helping her day to day. We are very honest with each other and want each other to become the best athletes and teammates that we can be. I am very excited with this addition to our team and can't wait to see her grow! Macy thinks that Bethaney is the best dancer, in her head at least, and always finds a way to make her laugh. So BK gets another point.
 
As you can see, we have a lot of incredible new Bulls on our team. Also, now you know that Brooke Leistl and BK are terrible dancers but make us all laugh. This week we have three fall games so check out our schedule and stop by to meet our newbies on the field!
 
As always, catch ya on the flip side and Go BULLS!
 
--Morgan