Staying Ready with Softball

Vikings softball recently opened up about how they are staying ready mentally and physically during these trying times. This feature with sophomore third baseman Illeana Rivera, sophomore second baseman Alora Murray, freshman left handed pitcher Lilly Orozco and freshman center fielder Gia Oliver demonstrates what it means to be a collegiate athlete right now and the importance of staying ready.

1. How are you staying ready for the upcoming season with conditioning and nutrition? 

AM: Everyday my workout routine is, I wake up and eat a hearty breakfast before I go on a two-mile run or five-mile walk. My challenge is to not eat out so much now because I understand it is easy to order takeout now. I like to end my day doing an ab workout and a two-minute plank. 

GO: I've developed my own workout routine that I've been sticking to weekly. I've also started eating healthier by limiting my sugar and junk food intake. By working out and making better food choices, I should be ready for when season starts.

LO: As a freshmen student athlete, some of the things I do to stay ready for the upcoming season includes a consistent diet and exercise routine. Thankfully, I've always been in tuned with both my mental and physical self, but now with time to spare I'm able to invest more in my daily schedule. Now that I have educated myself more on nutrition, I have now removed carbs, fast food, processed foods, and increased my protein, vegetable, fruit, and water intake.

IR: The way I'm staying ready is that I try to push myself everyday by lifting five days a week and also keeping a calorie deficit. In the past, I never really took care of my body the right way, so now I have the chance make my body healthy. If you met me in the past I would never get up and workout every day, I was super lazy, but now I'm loving my new self and my new mindset as we're stuck in this pandemic.

2. What are some of the conditioning exercises that you do to stay ready for a softball?

AM: I try to run as much as I can, but also I like to lift weights to help me build more upper body muscles. 

GO: Since I'm a slapper, I need to be fast on my feet so I've been doing a lot of speed related drills like ladders and sprints at the beach. I've also been doing cardio three times a week to maintain my endurance.

LO: The most effective exercises that I personally utilize are cardio/full body workouts twice a week and lifting three times a week. My most favorite is lifting because I am able to focus on my strength, which ultimately translates to my performance on the field. Some exercises I do for lifting include dumb bells deadlifts, squats, hip thrusts, and landmine deadlifts. Lastly, for cardio/full body some exercises I do include running/sprints, HIIT workouts, and swimming which help with my endurance and stamina.

IR: I like to lift a lot and I always switch everything up, so one day it's leg day, then arms and back, but I will always do core workouts because even though they suck it makes me feel stronger when I'm done with them!
For cardio, I mostly like to jump rope it makes me light on my toes and that is what I struggle with since I am a tall girl.

3. How do you stay focused on your goals during this tumultuous time?

AM: During these tough times, I try to stay positive and mindful that there is light at the end of the tunnel. It is a challenge as a student athlete having to focus on school, stay healthy and active for your sport, but also some of us work full time jobs outside of it all. I always tell myself where we are now is either sink or swim, and I will continue to swim.

GO: At times, it can get hard to stay motivated but I always remember why I started playing and focus on making little goals to accomplish throughout the week.

LO: During these unprecedented times, I've chosen to focus on my core mental and physical health with my free time. I continue to challenge myself every day to not allow life circumstances to get in the way of my goals. I've involved my family so that there are more people to help motivate and inspire to keep me accountable for my daily affirmations.

IR: I try to focus on the positive aspects of this pandemic even if there isn't many, but I like to just take time for myself and do stuff that makes me happy like listening to music or watching movies. Obviously I have to make sure I'm doing my job in the classroom because without school, there isn't softball, and I believe what I'm doing right now is a privilege because most girls don't get to do what I do.

4. What are your inspirations to keep playing and staying ready?

AM: My inspiration to keep playing softball is knowing that this is my year to get another chance at getting recruited and going to play at the next level. I'm being given another chance to become a better player.

GO: My inspiration to keep playing is my love to win and the adrenaline rush I get while playing.

LO: My inspirations to keep playing and staying ready are reminding myself every day that being an athlete is my passion and it's what I love to do and it's not a duty. Another inspiration is my family who encourages me to do my absolute best and remind me I am capable of reaching my goals.

IR: My inspiration is my mom. She was the first person to push me towards my love for softball, and that keeps me going every day. I also want to be a future pro softball player, and be an inspiration to my family because I have worked from the ground and am striving for the top. I know I will reach the top very soon so that's why I love working out now because it keeps me in the game and I'm getting better every day.

5. Do you have any mantras that you were following?

AM: My favorite mantra is "The tallest oak in the forest was once just a little nut that held its ground." 

GO: Yes, I usually repeat the saying "hard work pays off".

LO: Some mantras that I personally follow are push, work, accomplish, next level, future, heart, and pride. These words all help push me through whenever I have self-doubt in order to get myself to the next level and have confidence.

IR: It's not really a mantra like or an inspiring quote, but it's like an acronym and it's YHLQMDLG which is "yo hago lo que me da la gana" which means "I do whatever I want". Every time I think about this it makes me feel like a leader and a strong person together. I've had some confidence issues in my past and this acronym makes me break that past issue of myself.

6. What are some of the obstacles that you are coming across that might try to derail you from your goals?

AM: One obstacle I have is keeping myself disciplined to wake up and stare at my computer for five hours straight. My academics are very important to me, but I've always been a hands-on learner and enjoyed being in a classroom atmosphere, but I also understand all students are in the same boat and we just need to continue to grind and be successful. 

GO: Besides being in a pandemic, and not getting enough exposure to coaches, an obstacle for me would be having consistent, diligent practice when there is no games to look forward towards.

LO: The pandemic posed the obstacle of interacting with other athletes during practice/games. That social interaction helps elevate all athletes at the next level. The lack of exposure at these games that may or may not happen deters any opportunity to be seen and get to the next level at a four-year university.

IR: Some obstacles that get in my way is obviously the virtual learning because I rather be in an actual classroom instead of my bedroom. It's great that I don't have to drive to school every day, but driving to school gave me a reason to be in school. Now that we have online class, it's easy to miss an assignment or to miss a zoom meeting and that sucks.

7. What's your advice on other athletes who are working on "stay ready"?

AM: My advice to other athletes who are staying ready in their sport is to continue to work hard and have a goal of becoming 1% better than you were the day before. Great things never came from comfort zones. 

GO: My advice would be to persevere through hard times like this and come back stronger once we can hit the fields.

LO: My advice to other athletes is truly appreciate and respect your goals and find ways to motivate and execute every aspect of your athletic journey. Always stay connected to what you love about your sport and remember that is your passion.

IR: My advice for other athletes is to stay strong and work hard in and out of the classroom. Whether if it's assignments for your class, your workouts, or when you have to go to work. I'm hoping that soon all of this is over and we get to go back to school and we hit the ground running. Stay positive and stay healthy! :)