The roar of the crowd, the faster pace of play and the pressure to perform can be overwhelming, especially for a freshman stepping onto a varsity field for the first time. For Hailey Weick, joining the varsity softball team meant learning how to handle high expectations while competing against older, more experienced players.
“I’ve always been involved in sports,” Weick said. “Softball is something I’ve really grown to love.”
Weick, a Kansas City native, earned a spot on the varsity roster as a freshman after years of playing multiple sports, including volleyball. While that experience helped prepare her athletically, adjusting to the intensity of varsity softball was still a challenge.
“The first month was hard,” Weick said. “There’s a lot of pressure, especially being younger, but once you get to know everyone, it gets better.”
On the field, Weick plays third base for the school team and first base for her club team, Sluggers. Playing multiple positions has helped her become a more versatile athlete, but the speed of varsity competition required constant focus.
“It’s a lot faster than what I was used to,” Weick said. “You have to stay focused all the time.”
As one of the youngest players on the team, Weick felt pressure to prove herself, but support from her family helped her stay confident.
“He’s always prepared me for the real world,” Weick said about her father. “He would do anything for me.”
Making varsity as a freshman stands out as one of her proudest accomplishments, along with maintaining strong grades during the semester.
“For school, it’s probably making varsity as a freshman and ending the semester with good grades,” Weick said.
Outside of softball, Weick enjoys spending time with friends and family and shopping at places like Zona Rosa or Target. Those breaks help her manage stress and stay balanced.
“In friendships, I value trust and actually caring,” Weick said. “I’ve also learned to forgive and move on instead of holding onto things.”
For Weick, her freshman year on varsity was about more than just softball. It was a lesson in handling pressure, building confidence and finding her place at the next level of competition.
