When you grow up playing a sport that has been a huge part of your childhood, a big decision is to be made when deciding if you will continue it into college. Julianna Koch, junior catcher on the SUNY Women’s Softball team decided to continue her lifelong love for softball.
Julz, her preferred nickname, began playing softball when she was four years old. Being a part of a team in college is very special and unifying to her. She decided to pursue softball at SUNY Cortland due to her love for the sport.
“I knew that if I had the opportunity to continue playing the game and did not take advantage of it,” Koch reveals, “I would never forgive myself.”
A huge motivation for Koch is the sacrifices that her parents made for her to be able to play softball-she plays it for them. Growing up, she looked up to a role model, her sister who played softball at Oneonta.
“Growing up, looking up to her has helped shape me to be the player I am today.” Koch said.
An important part of having a successfull team is having a support system on and off the field. Koch has learned that a group of like-minded individuals can accomplish anything they put their minds to. She has made great relationships with her teammates who all help her when she needs an extra push or feeling down. She lives with three of her roommates, who are some of her closest friends and they all work hard together so that it bonds them on another level.
For the upcoming season, the first game being March 10th against Salem, Koch’s goal is to win the conference championship along with the titles after that.
Koch faces challenges, as any student athlete does, when playing her favorite sport. The biggest challenge that she faces is the mental aspect of the sport.
“Since softball is a game of failure it can be easy to lose confidence and get down on myself.” Koch said
Despite her challenges, Koch is confident in her work ethic. She works hard in everything she does, and it pays off. She takes pride in her ability to put her all in anything. Koch believes that this skill gives her the confidence to always keep going.
The preparation before a game is essential for all athletes in order to be successful. Julz prepares herself by getting into a calm and steady headspace. She does this by listening to calm music or talking to her parents. She reveals that she does not have any pregame superstitions.
Though not having pregame superstitions, Koch and her teammates use chants and core values that they play by. They always say, “YEA RED!” Koch says it keeps the energy up. By the time game time rolls around, most of them have lost their voices from how energized and amped up they are.