It takes a lot to be a student athlete. It comes with a lot of stress and a lot of time away from your family. Not only that, but it can also be very mentally draining. Sometimes it can become too much for athletes, for some all it takes is a year away.
Gabbie Bennett, a senior at Blackwell high school, did just that. After taking her junior year off from softball Gabbie is back out there for her senior year picking up just where she left off. Being a senior means you have a lot of highlights you could think about from your time playing, but Gabbie’s comes from her senior year.
“The highlight of my career is taking off a year and coming back my senior year and picking up where I left off” she said.
Motivation has always been easy for Gabbie to get, what motivates her to keep going, she said, is her parents, “My motivation is seeing how hard my mom and dad work every day to get me and my siblings everything we need, and more, while also always being our biggest fans in the crowd.”
It has taken more than just motivation for Gabbie to be successful in her sport, she says being successful in softball has also taken “a lot of dedication and support from my teammates.”
There are many influences in Gabbie’s life that help her continue in her sport, but she says her biggest influences are her friend Adi and her Coach Jeff. “Adi shows me that hard work does pay off and that the only person who can determine what you can do is you” she said. “Coach Jeff has brought back my passion for a sport that I have loved my whole life.” Outside of softball, Gabbie is also involved in pep-club and is a four-year art student. On the field, representing your school is a very big honor. Gabbie says representing her school means “my coach trusts me enough to put me out there and represent us, it is an honor and a privilege.”
