Q&A with Columbine softball captain Emma Todd
LITTLETON, Colo. — Emma Todd is a senior at Columbine High School who has played Varsity Softball for the past 4 years. She also joined the Swimming and Diving team for the first time this year. We were privileged to interview her and get to know more about her and the dedication of the softball team.
What sports do you play at Columbine?
Emma Todd: I’m proud to be a part of the softball and swim team.
Tell me a little about yourself and your family.
Todd: I am the oldest of four in my family: Me (18), Addie (16), Bayden (14), and Carson (12). I am the Student Body President as well as a National Honor Society officer at school this year. I enjoy spending time with friends, family, and being outside.
What are some highlights from your softball season this year?
Todd:
1. Beating Arvada West three times. All three times we came back in the later innings because we were losing during the earlier innings. We ended up pulling together as a team to beat them in all three instances.
2. Going to the State Championship game. We took second place in the State Tournament this year. We had an amazing season overall; finishing with a record of 25-4. This was a representation of all of our hard work and dedication paying off.
3. Hitting home runs. I finished the season with a batting average of .500 and 10 home runs. Two of the ten home runs were the longest hit balls of my 8+ year career. Both of the home runs were hit over/to either the back fence of my high school field (beyond the softball fence) or the baseball fence at Aurora Sports Park.
What do you like best about your team?
Todd: I love that my team is a tight-knit family. The majority of the team from this season has played together for most of high school and a large group of us have played together since we were in elementary school. I love that we all push each other to be our best. I really appreciate that each and every one of my teammates has my back no matter what. I love my team because they are more than just my teammates, they are my family.
What leadership do you provide for the other players?
Todd: I was the first-ever two-time captain in Columbine softball history. This also made me the first player to be voted into a captain position in my junior year. But leadership is much more than a title. I provided leadership for my team in that I lead by example. I showed up early, stayed late, always had a positive attitude, and worked hard at practice which motivated my teammates to do the same. Additionally, I am proud of the fact that I was the person that anyone could come to for help at practices and games (whether that was mentally, emotionally, physically).
What are some of the life lessons you’ve learned from softball or sports in general?
Todd: The lessons I learned from softball–and honestly sports in general–are endless but some of the most important are as follows. I learned that failure is just an opportunity to learn and to get better. I also use failure to motivate myself for the next opportunity or challenge in the future. Failing taught me to work hard, persevere, and face adversity head-on. I learned the value of hard work, teamwork, mental strength/determination, and dedication. I learned to utilize my competitive drive to help my teammates, as well as myself, improve.
What piece of advice would you give for new members of the team?
Todd:
1. Enjoy every minute. I never believed the seniors when they told me that time would fly. Four years later, here I am giving the same advice. These past four years have been the best experiences of my life. Looking back, I wouldn’t change a single thing. Enjoy the wins, losses, hard days, car rides, and team dinners. I loved every second of my high school softball experience.
2. Be a good teammate. At the end of the day, the teams that are successful aren’t only athletic and extremely talented within the game, they are a close-knit family. Some of my teammates have become some of my closest friends. Be there for your teammates every day because being a united front makes a stronger team.
3. “Do today what others won’t so tomorrow you can do what others can’t.” This was the mantra that the varsity softball team lived by. I introduced this quote to the team and I had no idea what impact it would have on our season. It symbolizes how the extra time and work you put in today–while others are taking a day off–will pay off in the long run. This mentality motivated us during practice as well as during difficult times during the seasons. I would, without a doubt, pass this on in hopes of motivating the new members of the team.
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