At the beginning of last season, the softball team found itself in the heart of a State Championship drought that lasted 16 years. This year though, the team will enter the season with a much different feeling. After winning last year’s class 4A IHSAA State Title, the team finds itself in a spot that it has not been in since 1994 – reigning State Champions.
Senior player Katie Bosler said that although the team very much enjoyed its State Championship last year, it plans to approach everything this year the exact same way. The one thing that is different about the team’s mentality towards this year? It is much more relaxed.
“Our approach to this season will be the same, with State as our primary goal,” Bosler said. “But I don’t think we will have as much pressure on us (this year) because we just won one, and now we know what it takes to be a State Champion. I think we all feel more prepared than ever going into this season, like we have a weight off of our chest.”
Head Coach Emily Good said she agrees with Bosler that the team will not approach this season any differently.
“Not necessarily,” Good said. “I believe our returning athletes know what takes to be successful. It will be important to focus on taking one game at a time, concentrate on the process, and be prepared to play at the highest level towards the end of our regular season.”
Bosler distinctly remembers the feeling she experience last June, and she said she believes that the team knows how to get that feeling back again this year.
“Winning State was a dream come true,” Bosler said. “Since we were freshman, my class has been focused on winning State, and to finally be able to win it after many years of heartbreak was awesome. I would say that we are definitely more motivated this year because we want that amazing feeling back.”
Even though the team might not feel as much pressure as it normally would entering a season, that doesn’t mean that the players are any less motivated to win another State Championship.
Senior Katherine Stout, who is entering her third year as a varsity player, said the seniors on the team are keeping the players motivated and excited for the season.

“We are definitely still as motivated as we were the day of the State Championship last year,” Stout said.
Good agreed with Stout, saying that the team is more focused and confident than ever after winning State.
“The target on us will be a little bigger this year,” Good said.  “However, with our schedule, we are familiar with getting our opponents ‘A’ game. It’s our job as a staff to help to create an atmosphere where our athletes are confident regardless of the situation.”
Stout said that Good makes sure to constantly remind the team that they are the ones being chased this year.
“We are definitely on our guard,” Stout said. “Coach Good always says ‘We have a huge target on our back this year’ which I think sums it up really well.”
As for expectations, Bosler said she knows that they will be just as high, if not higher, than they always are.
“Everyone always asks us if we are going to win back-to-back State Championships,” she said. “I know that we are going to try our best to get back to the championship.”