University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Q&A with Softball Senior Katie Cleary
1/26/2016 12:00:00 AM | Softball
HATTIESBURG, Miss. -- With the 2016 season just around the corner, Golden Eagle fans have the opportunity to get to know senior Katie Cleary. She is a native of Temecula, Calif. and a three-year starter for the Southern Miss softball team.
What have you done differently leading up to your senior year?
I think knowing it is my final season has made it a little different. When I was going to fill out my calendar and look at all of the games, it just seemed like it was going to go by so fast. What I have started to do at practice is take each day like I am never going to get to do it again because this time next year, I won't. Our team is going to come back to practice, and I won't be a part of it. I want to be that example and show others what it is like to really work hard and get after it every day. I don't ever want to leave any day with any regrets and think `I should have done this. I should have done that.' I don't want to get to the end of my career thinking that. I am leaving it all on the field this year.
What is different this season compared to last year?
This is the closest that any team has been that I have ever been a part of. Every day I walk into the dugout and girls are like, `I can't wait to get out there,' `I can't wait to play.' I feel like everyone is on the same page and so bought into their roles with all of their preparation. The coaches brought in the #LOVE. I think that all of the players have bought into the coaches and the coaches have bought into all of us as players. I think just with that alone that is going to bring more success to our season. We all have so much trust in each other this year. I can look to that person and she is going to get it done. They can look to that person and they are going to get it done. There is no question that when someone goes up to the plate or when someone is on the field they are going to get it done. Everyone trusts each other and we work so well as a unit no matter who is in there. Whether it is the outfielders working together or the infielders. The infielders are so cohesive. When we are doing our ground balls, the throws from third base are always on. The throws from short, from second. We are coming together as a unit versus nine different players trying to play for different reasons. I feel like we are nine different players playing for one reason.
How has your role changed this season?
I have always tried to be a team leader, but mainly I am trying to stay positive and keep everybody up. Everyone is competing so hard for positions. It is all really healthy competition. We are all making each other better. I think just trying to take control of the team and leading by example. I have been here for four years so if my experiences can help any other girls than I think that is what I am here for.
Moving from California to Mississippi; what kind of a culture shock did you experience?
I remember the first year I came here, it was really different. The people in California are awesome, but the people here are so nice. You hear rumors of southern hospitality, and it is completely true. Being in California, you are surrounded by big cities and I feel like Hattiesburg is one big community. You can drive an hour and a half to New Orleans and other surrounding cities, but Hattiesburg is a big community. It was a lot different from California and a lot to get used to. On the highways, there are only two lanes. The freeways in California are huge. People take their time. Everyone in California is so fast paced.
Do you ever get homesick?
I wouldn't have been able to do it without my teammates. I have made some amazing friends here. All of my close friends' parents have taken me in as their own kid. They treat me like I am part of their family. No matter what, if my parents are far away, I always feel like I have parents close to here to help take care of me. It makes it a lot easier. I know my parents really appreciate it since they can't be here that my friends' families have taken me in. The team and the coaching staff is like one big family so I have a family here. Yes, I miss my family, but it makes it a lot easier that we are all so close.
My senior year, I want to...
I want to win Conference. We haven't gone to the conference tournament the past two years. I really think that looking at the strength of our new recruits, mixed with the experience of our returners, I think we are going to be close this year. We have such a desire to win. So many of the girls expect to win and know that we are going to win. It is going to be a really awesome season and I can't wait to be a part of it.
What does it mean to you to finish your career with your fellow seniors Sarah Evans, Morgan McKeever, and Michelle Stringer?
I think it is really something special. We have watched each other grow, not only as players, but as people. We had to always be there for each other. Looking back to how we were freshman year and watching everyone grow into the person they are today, it has been something I have been blessed to be a part of. Senior Day is going to be really hard. It is an experience that I have been lucky to be a part of. It is going to be weird having to hang up the cleats.
How have you changed from your freshman year to now?
I would say freshman year I wasn't as confident in my abilities. Coming from travel ball and playing in California, it was a bit of a culture shock being away from home. I had to grow up. Growing up I had everything done for me so I had to grow up and figure out what I wanted to do with my life. I have amazing parents, but having to be without my parents and make that transition. My life has really taught me to grow up. From freshman year to senior year, I am a lot more confident in the person that I am and the person I am striving to be. That would be the biggest change.
What is the biggest thing you have learned since you have been at Southern Miss?
The biggest thing I have learned is not to measure yourself by your failures. If you don't have a good practice one day, you have to just throw it away. You always have tomorrow to get better. Just keep getting better every day and not let setbacks effect your life. With every setback, there is going to be something positive to come out of it. I think just look at the positives and have that get you through and not drown so much on the negatives.
What emoji would best describe you?
Before it would've been easy, the little blonde girl that (holds her hair up), but I have had to change it to brown because I recently dyed my hair.
The Southern Miss softball team is scheduled to play a 55-game schedule that includes 26 games at the Southern Miss Softball Complex. In addition, the Golden Eagles will play 19 games against 11 different teams that played in NCAA Regionals last season. Southern Miss begins the 2016 campaign at the Sand Dollar Classic in Gulf Shores, Ala. on Feb. 12-14. The Golden Eagles host Alabama State in a doubleheader at the Softball Complex to open up the 2016 home campaign on Wednesday, Feb. 17.
