Looking Back: Ashley Garcia
(The Looking Back series features Anna Maria College spring student-athletes and coaches to tell their story about what they will miss following the cancellation of the spring season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We celebrate our student-athletes and coaches by allowing them to share their stories and hope their own words can bring a positive light during these unprecedented times.)
Written By Ashley Garica (So., 1B/C/SS, Cornwall, NY/Cornwall Central, Forensic Criminology)
PAXTON, MA - I am missing softball a lot right now. Softball was an outlet I used to get away from anything going on in my life. Playing was a way that I relieved stress and just poured my heart onto the field. I love playing softball and at Anna Maria, it has been such an incredible experience. I believe that being a student-athlete here, has made me become a better person on and off the field.
I will miss putting on our uniforms and getting ready to compete this season. I will miss competing with my teammates on the field and working towards our goal of making the playoffs. Among many other things, I will miss my teammates. It is hard to be around your teammates 24/7, to suddenly not at all. From playing softball I have gained some of my best friends throughout my time here. Words can't describe how much I was looking forward to our first home game. From stepping out onto the dirt at home and hearing your name announced, to stepping in the batter's box and hearing the walk-up song you spent hours choosing.
I know that our school will come back stronger from all of this happening. Anna Maria is a school that prides itself on being a small close-knit community. I can say that throughout these unprecedented times, Anna Maria has fulfilled this and has never stopped being there for us. What is getting me through this hard time is thinking of the future and how our team will come back from this. I know for a fact that our team along with many others will use this as a lesson to play every game truly like it is your last and never take anything for granted. So that being said, swing, throw, and run that much harder and most importantly leave that much more on the field so at the end of the day you will be left with no regrets.
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Photo Credit- Allison Shoulds'21
