Spotlight Athlete: AvaRose Eskridge #13

SPORTS: Softball, Volleyball, Flag Football

Tell us your story. What life experiences have impacted your journey? What motivates you? What is your “why"?

Hi PlaysBigger team, thank you for doing this interview. My story is that I was born and have been raised in Austin Tx. I have experienced different things so far in my life, but one experience that impacted me and my sports journey a lot is my Popo passing away. He was really athletic and played all kinds of sports but his favorite sport ever was Softball, which is my favorite sport too now. He played softball his whole life even when he was fighting colon cancer, he even earned a MVP award at one of his teams last tournaments in 2019! I was Always really proud of my Popo he was the best at everything especially being my Popo. I got to watch him work hard at everything like his job and his sports and being a grandpa to me and my sister and so I push Myself to work hard at everything I do. I tell Myself to give not only 100 percent but 120 percent to everything I do, especially school and sports because that's important to me and my family and I want to show my sister that too. My Popo and my family motivates me to be the best at anything I do. I want to be a good example to my little sister Eva. My why is my Popo and my family, they all support me with everything I want to do and I really wouldn't be able to be who I am with school and sports and the Christian I am without any of them. 

What role does your faith play in your life and in your sports career?

My faith plays a really big role in life and sports. I give all my trust to God when it comes to anything I do, because he is the only one that can guide me and help me whether I am doing good or bad. He is always there for me no matter what time it is or where I am. I love that he loves me unconditionally just like my family does.

Do you have a favorite Bible verse? If so, which one and why?

My favorite Bible verse is Psalm 55:22 because I know He will always take care of me and thinking of that helps me, especially when I sometimes I put a lot of pressure on myself with grades and sports work like wanting to perform the best I can to help my teams or results I want during trainings and workouts.

Psalm 55:22

"Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken."

What accomplishment are you most proud of personally and athletically (name one of each)?

I am personally proud of getting good grades at my private Christian school, my school is really, really challenging everyday and our homework is challenging which we have everyday too. I have been able to keep my grades in good standing since starting there in the 4th grade which is the hardest grade to start at there. There's another accomplishment that is a really close #1 too, which is being a Mizuno Fastpitch Athlete for the past 3 years!!! I really love that my work ethic and the social media work that me and my mama work on together helped me earn and keep that opportunity. They really support me so much. Athletically I am proud of the organization and team I'm a part of now. I'm really excited to grow under my coaches and trainers Kristi Malpass and Scott Smith. Coach Kristi has helped me grow a lot as a middle infielder, defender, even IQ wise too and Coach Scott has helped me grow mentally and physically as a Slapper. 

What do you feel sets you apart from your competition and what skills do you currently possess that are your biggest assets?

I feel Like the work ethic I have sets me apart from my competition. I work on my softball skills and workout 5 days a week with my rest days usually being on Sundays.

Genesis 2:3

"Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done."

A couple years ago I told my daddy I wanted to be the fastest and strongest player on my team, so I could make amazing plays like Janae Jefferson and Jayda Coleman and ever since then he's been helping me with that. We would go to the gym every single day and he would push me to do the most I can do with every rep and workout. He runs his own business now so he's on the road a lot but him and my mama found me the best trainers and now they help me stay consistent with building my body up too. I've become faster and stronger every year and I'm really grateful for all of them. 

What skills are you most focused on improving?

I am really focused on my mental skills. Sometimes I put a lot of pressure on myself for performance and result expectations, but I have been really focused on taking each rep one at a time and giving myself positive feedback even if it's criticism like more of working on the tone I have with myself.

Tell us what a typical day or week is like for you:

A typical day for me is waking up at 5 am to review my homework I completed the evening before, because sometimes my evenings are really busy and I know my brain is "overloaded" as my mama says. After I review my homework and have my mama sign my planner, I start my hygiene routine and get dressed for school, I pack my lunch and fill my water bottle for the day, and have all my stuff ready to go. Sometimes, I help my mama by getting my sister Eva up because Eva is not a morning person at all lol. I then go to school and each day I have different shifts of work :

• Mondays: agility-speed and slapping training
• Tuesdays: agility-speed-strength training
• Wednesdays: softball midweek workout or agility-speed training
• Thursdays: agility-speed-strength training
• Fridays: agility-speed training and rebounder work or slapping work
• Saturdays: fielding and hitting with my daddy
• Sundays: church and hang out with my family

Many of my friends say my schedule is "too crazy" but I love that I'm being busy and I follow a lot of college and professional athletes journeys and their schedules include a lot of training time and studying time so I think to myself I'm just preparing for that time of my life.

What are your plans for the future and what is your number one objective for the next year / season?

My plans for the future are to continue keeping my grades in good standing, be a top performer on my Bombers Gold team and push my teammates to be the best they can be! Next season/year I really want to showcase my skillset growth to Coach Kristi! Her expectations are really high and I really Love that because it pushes me to keep going for more and to keep getting better no matter how well or bad I do In a game or practice!

What is the biggest challenge you see in achieving your upcoming goal or where could you use help?

The biggest challenge I see is me not easing up on myself. I really have to change the way I talk to myself when I don't like how my workouts or performances go. 

What words of advice do you have for younger athletes that are up and coming?

My words of advice to younger athletes is to never let anyone get in their heads. There will be a lot of people that support you and also that don't support you but always remember God and your family will ALWAYSSS support you and that is all that matters. I would tell them to keep God first, family second and sports third because that really is the order it should be. Also, to always be a good competitor and player no matter if you win or lose. Be nice and respectful all the time because everyone you meet in softball or any sport loves that game just like you. 

Who was your favorite player growing up or who's style of play do you most admire?

I LOVE JANAE JEFFERSON! She was the first player I really admired when I started to watch the college softball games! I still watch her play for Mexico and she's been doing so good!

What one question would you have for your favorite athlete if they were sitting here now?

Do you have a go to routine for when you're putting a lot of pressure on yourself during workouts or trainings or games???

Is there anything else you would like to share with the community?

I would like to share that my dream school list has changed a lot lol at first I was all in with Texas but now my list includes:

• Texas
• Harvard
• Texas A&M
• Florida State
• UCLA
• Florida