Lanie Leach

Writer

Enjoying the homerun experiences, senior Jayleigh Totten strives to continue her softball career after highschool.

Being involved in softball since she was three, Totten reflected on why she joined the sport to begin with.

“My dad was one of the main reasons that I joined softball,” Totten said. “He has helped me with softball since I was a little girl, and I have always looked up to him for it.”
Bringing countless qualities to the team, Totten acts as a role model to many of her teammates.

Gaining a friend through softball, sophomore Lyvia Bateman described the leadership and dedication that Totten gave to the sport.

“Jayleigh brought countless skills to the team, but I was impacted the most by her love for the game,” said Bateman. “Jayleigh always wanted the best for the team – she lead by example and really helped encourage and push us throughout the whole year.”

Totten made an impact on all of her teammates, including her sister freshman Jillian Totten.

Jill recognized Jayleigh not only for her achievements in sports but also her success in academics.

“I think that Jayleigh most definitely deserves to be the student of the week,” Jill said. “She spends countless hours at home working on her homework, and she studies for every test that she has to take.”

Having been raised into the sport, Totten has since discovered the truth behind what it takes to be a prosperous athlete.

“If you want to be a successful athlete, you have to work hard at everything you do,” Totten said. “You can’t just work when someone is watching – you have to work on you own time as well.”

Carrying on her softball career, Totten plans to play for Southern Nazarene University and majoring in physical therapy.