As the high school softball season comes to an end, the softball team will be losing three valuable members who have loved and supported the team since they joined it in seventh grade. These past six years have been memorable and valuable for seniors Lynnsey Trybom, Marrissa Miller, and Reese Patton. They all will continue to play travel ball throughout the summer, but only one of them will continue on her softball career throughout college. Miller will continue her softball and wrestling career at Iowa Lakes Community College.
The softball program has continued to build up more and more over the course of time that these seniors have been playing high school softball. When they first started varsity their freshman year of high school, the varsity record was 8-11. In their final year of high school softball, the record has tremendously improved to the best it’s been in almost ten years, with their season ending at 19-13. Their dedication to the softball program has helped build it up to where it is now and will continue to leave a legacy, impacting the future of the Monticello High School softball program.
Patton is sadly leaving the Monticello High School softball team behind, now looking forward to carrying out her major in kinesiology at the U of I. Patton is certainly sad because she has to leave the softball team behind, but she is most saddened about the fact that she has to leave her best friends behind. “The teammates I have met over the years have really left an impact on me and have become some of my best friends,” she mentioned. Patton has been through a lot since the beginning of her freshman year, making a lot of memories and friends along the way. The one thing that stuck with her the most was Miller’s walk-off grand slam against St. Joe her junior year. She commented that “it was an awesome thing to experience.”
Being on this softball team for so long has left her with life long memories, friends, and lessons. Patton said that she would tell future players that everyone should just be good team players, adding that “the team comes first.” According to Patton, this mentality helps keep a happy and healthy team environment, one that everyone hopes to have with the team she’ll be spending her entire spring with.
Miller is planning to continue her softball career throughout college, but is very saddened to leave behind the improving softball program. She is looking forward to college softball though, mentioning that she is looking forward to the friendships she is going to have and being independent and away from her friends and family. Miller stated that she is going to miss her friends and seeing them on a daily basis. “I am close with a lot of people, and it’s honestly scary thinking about leaving them all behind so soon,” she adds.
The memories and experiences Miller made throughout her softball career, especially high school softball, will stick with her for a lifetime. She advised future and continuing MHS softball players to take the friendships you make and make them the best time possible. She continued, saying, “Don’t take any of the time you have for granted and live your life to the fullest.”
Trybom is planning on continuing her education at SIU-Edwardsville in math education. Trybom has dedicated these last six years of her life to the Sages softball program and was reportedly an awesome and uplifting teammate who repeatedly put the team before herself. Her impact on the softball team is one that will likely leave an impression on the team and the team bond for years to come.
Knowing that these seniors will all have to say their goodbyes soon, is a sad and intimidating thought for everyone, not just them. Taking their advice and wisdom and passing it on to younger Sage generations is important and vital to keep the fun team dynamic that the softball team has experienced this year. Ending their high school softball career on a high note is something they all strive to achieve.
Sadie Walsh, Staff Writer
walsa26@sages.us
The Sage Informer 
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