When did you start playing baseball?

I first started playing tee ball when I was about 5 or 6, and my dad was the coach for that first year. A few years later, I began playing on the Carmel Pups and met some of my teammates who I am still playing with my senior year, and Coach John Zangrilli, who has coached me ever since. I really think it’s cool that I have been able to play with those guys and be coached by for so long.

When did you realize that baseball was so important to you?

During those first few seasons of baseball, I fell in love with the game and have been playing ever since.Once pups ended in about fifth grade, I moved into middle school baseball at Clay and I played for the Indiana Mustangs in the summer, again making so many awesome memories and friends I still have today. Once I hit high school, I fully committed to baseball after my freshman year, and I also joined the Indiana Bulls and became a pitcher-only, which was another big change but ultimately has worked out great for me.

How has this sport impacted you?

My sophomore year I was called up to varsity, which was a moment I had been dreaming about since I was little, and have done everything I can to contribute to our program over the past three seasons. This past year, I was lucky enough to get the chance to play at the next level at Rose-Hulman, which combined exactly what I was looking for in a college: an opportunity to keep playing baseball and an elite engineering school. I’m grateful for everything the game has given me and really looking forward to this season and making a run for the State Title.

How did you manage to balance a time-consuming sport like baseball and academics?

Balancing high-school athletics, academics and my involvement with clubs (Carmel Dance Marathon) was tough throughout high school, especially junior and senior year when I became a member of Cabinet, but it made me a better student and person. I had to learn how to manage my time well, plan ahead, use a calendar, find study methods that worked for me, limit my time on my phone and create a study space and routine that let me study efficiently. Getting involved with CDM and athletics not only helped the kids at Riley Children’s Hospital but made me better prepared for college and beyond.