All your favorite teams and sources in one place

Build your feed

Your Teams.
All Sources.

Build your feed

© 2024 BVM Sports. Best Version Media, LLC.

No results found.
Normal West senior and Upper Iowa softball commit, McGonigle, on her athletic career
Courtesy: Steph Mazanowski

Normal West senior and Upper Iowa softball commit, McGonigle, on her athletic career

NORMAL, Ill. — 

Rylee McGonigle
Age: 17
School: Normal Community West High School
Grade: 12th
Favorite Sport: Softball
Team/s: BNGSA Angels 03 and Normal West Varsity

Q: What sports do you play? How long have you played them?
A: I play softball with the BNGSA Angels 03 and Normal West Varsity team. I have played softball since I was six or seven. I began pitching when I was nine years old and immediately fell in love with it.

Q: What are some of the most memorable wins you’ve had?
A: One of my most memorable games was this past summer. My travel team and I were playing against a really good organization. I was very nervous entering the game, but I settled down as it started. I threw one of my best games in front of many college coaches. Every pitch seemed to be working that day and I was ecstatic. Winning that game gave me a lot of confidence in myself and my teammates.

Q: As an athlete, what is a rule you live by?
A: I live by the rule “CWYCC,” which means  ” In the game of softball, you can’t control the weather, umpires, fans, etc. In life, there is a lot you can’t control as well, so I try my best to live by “CWYCC” on and off the field.

Q: What’s the best piece of advice you received from a coach or mentor?
A: One huge lesson I try to live by was taught to me by my high school softball coach, April Schermann. She has taught us many different mental training tools, but the most significant one to me is to “act like a racehorse.” What this means is to focus on your future and yourself only. When horses go into their races, they have blinders on the sides of their head so that they can focus on themselves and the race path only. I found this phrase to be very helpful because I spent a long time comparing myself to other athletes, which only held me back. Now I try to spend every day focusing on myself and my path.

Q: Describe a mistake you made while competing and how you overcame it.
A: Last summer, I was playing with my Angels travel softball team. I had been working very hard on my change-up, but it always went too far inside on right-handed hitters. I was pitching and the game was tied 2-2 in the 3rd inning. My catcher called a change-up, but I was really nervous to throw it. I threw it and hit the batter. But then we finished the inning and I asked my catcher and one of the coaches to work on it while we were hitting. My coach told me that my shoulders were too square and I needed to adjust them. So I took his piece of advice and entered the next inning. My catcher called a change-up. The count was 1 ball and 2 strikes. I threw the pitch and it was perfect. The batter struck out and we ended up winning the game.

Q: Do you have a pre-game ritual? Do you have a favorite pre-game song to listen to?
A: I don’t have a pre-game ritual or song, but I always keep the same routine when hitting or pitching. My routine for hitting is getting the sign from my coach, clearing the batter’s box, looking at my bat while taking a deep breath, and then entering the box. With pitching, I go through my warmup pitches, take a deep breath with my teammates and then look at my name on my glove. These routines help me focus and calm down before I perform.

Q: What do you like to do when you’re not playing your sport?
A: When I am not playing softball, I love to do various activities with my friends and family. One of my favorite hobbies that helps me with pitching and softball is swimming. I love swimming and I am a lifeguard at my high school. I work at Alexander’s Steakhouse as well.

Q: What’s your favorite snack food?
A: I absolutely love Mexican food, but when I’m in season or playing, I try to eat pretty healthy. I love all fruits and most vegetables.

Q: If someone in your family chose one word to describe you, who would you pick and what word would they use? Why?
A: If I were to pick one person in my family to describe me, it would be my dad. My dad knows me better than anyone and I think he would describe me as very hardworking. I try my best to be exactly like him in that aspect because he is also very determined and hardworking.

Q: How would you describe your personality?
A: I would describe my personality as very caring. I try to go above and beyond in my friendships, relationships, school, and softball because those are all very important to me.

Q: When you close your eyes and dream about your future, what does that look like?
A: I am going to play for Upper Iowa University for the next four years. Then hopefully, I will transfer into Palmer Chiropractic College in order to get my doctorate. After that, I hope to move down south near my siblings and parents, open up my own chiropractic practice, and start a family.

This is an unedited user writing submission. The views, information, or opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Best Version Media or its employees.