Matison McConnell is not sure where she falls in these categories but says she loves being part of the team.

“I am not the best player, I may not even be good at the sport,” she said. “But I believe that you don’t have to be perfect at the game to enjoy it. To me, practices, where I can grow connections with people I wouldn’t even know, is a gift.

“Going to games in different towns and the bonds we make during them are even better. Seeing a teammate hitting a ball over the fence is more amazing to me than me getting on base because seeing everyone in the dugout light up and scream at the top of their lungs for them is more gratifying.”

Matison is a sophomore at Blackwell High School, where she plays both softball and basketball. Away from sports, she is also in the student council and art.

Wearing the Blackwell uniform gives McConnell a sense of community and school pride.

“When I play, I usually learn something new and try to do my best,” she said. “I want to be able to show other schools how much I’ve grown because my school and my community are important to me.

“My school, community, and people I know have made me a better person and player and I want other schools to see this, even if they don’t know me as a person.”

Throughout her career, Matison has put in the work to be ready to compete, but she says it takes more than just work to be an outstanding athlete.

“You have to have a really good attitude and give lots of effort,” she said. “I want to be better at sports and be better as a person overall.”