MAYSON GREINER

     My name is Mayson Greiner, I wear number eight on (and off) the softball field. I have played softball since I was five years old and throughout that time I’ve been exposed to numerous challenges mentally, physically, and socially. Softball is something that has formed the person I am today. I’ve been taught how to effectively work with others, be coachable, keep an open mind, be flexible, not to dwell on the past, and most importantly I’ve learned to be humble during my success and learn from my mistakes/losses. I know that I am not the best player on the field and I know there are always opportunities to get better, no one is perfect and that’s something that pushes me to try harder.

     Although softball is what I consider my past, present, and future, I have other passions as well. I’m currently enrolled in an early college program which allows me to get a head start on my future education and career. I am aiming to work in the medical field, hopefully a geneticist or anesthesiologist. My education has been my top priority throughout my life and it shows through my 4.0 GPA for my college courses. I have tried to work my way to the top for years and it has been a challenging process to get there considering how competitive my school is. I am a part of the National Honors Society and I’m enrolled in a surgical technology program. Through school, I have learned how to have time management skills and I also learned how to ask for help when needed. Both of those skills became useful throughout my softball career as well. Softball and school take up a lot of my time but it has never stopped me from pursuing other hobbies as well. Although I could never find a sport that I liked as much as softball, I found passion in baking, music, and volunteering. Having all of these things to focus on have allowed me to experience many situations and feelings that have ultimately made me stronger throughout my life.

   When I started playing softball, I was not good at all. That’s to be expected from someone just starting out, but I was horrible. After I joined my first travel ball team, there were times where I thought it wasn’t worth it, there were times where I wanted to quit. I never did though, I don’t know why but it seemed as though there was an invisible string that kept me there. Eventually, through years of practicing and waiting I graduated from left bench to right field. It was the best feeling I’ve ever felt, it made me feel accomplished, that feeling is what made me know I wanted to play this sport for as long as possible. Since then, I started moving positions, I found that I had strengths and weaknesses and I became more familiar with them both. I’m a left handed fielder that struggles to play shortstop but excels on first base. I also learned that I was a pretty decent outfielder because I was able to track the ball. Even though I had my weaknesses, I never let that stop me from going out of my comfort zone, if a coach needed me on shortstop, I would play there without question. I learned to not care if I wasn’t comfortable, I learned that I could play anywhere if I really set my mind to it, even if other people wouldn’t agree. One of my biggest challenges throughout my career was learning to play as a catcher. I got my first set of catcher gear when I was about ten years old, I immediately wanted to learn how to play that position. I learned quickly that no one thought a catcher could be left handed, no one gave me the chance or support to play that position. Eventually, I joined a team that trusted my athletic ability enough to let me try to learn that position. It became my new passion and I learned that regardless of what anyone says, I could do anything, all I needed was confidence and support from the right people. I’m now on a team that supports me and believes in my ability to play the game and I couldn’t be happier playing the sport I knew I loved from the beginning. That’s my story.