Spotlight Athlete: Rylee Tedder #12

SPORTS: Softball

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

I started playing softball with my parents as my coaches at age 6. At age 10, they made the decision to stop coaching me so I could play for a team that was going to play a national schedule. Ever since I have been exposed to that level of competition, that has motivated me to get 1% better everyday and be reliable for my team. My why is to be the best player I can be and my mom is a big factor in that she played Division 1 softball. She is my role model and I want to follow in her footsteps of playing softball in college.

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

Faith is the center of everything for me. Having faith in God makes everything so much easier in my life. Having that relationship with him gives me a sense of security and knowing that he has purpose in my life and a plan for me in school and softball.

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

My favorite Bible verse is Matthew 5:16.

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. “ It is reminding me to keep God at the center of my life and that everything I do is a reflection of him, so he is glorified. 

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

Personally, my grades are my biggest accomplishment. I have been taking honors and AP classes when able and I have maintained straight As in all of them. Athletically, making all-state as a freshman was a big accomplishment for me. One of my biggest single game achievements was winning the conference championship, where I threw 199 pitches and struck out the last two batters in a 14 inning 10-9 victory!

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 my work ethic is my biggest asset. I put time working in strength doing CrossFit , I spend time working on speed & agility and then I always have pitching and hitting lessons. And my mental strength is a skill that is my biggest asset allowing me to remain composed on the mound through triumphs and adversity.

What skills are you most focused on improving?

Always my mental game and then for pitching we are always chasing velocity and spin. I have seen big improvements this year so I am excited to continue working to see even more.

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

So weekly of course I have school. Three days a week I am now going to CrossFit before school to get my workouts in, I have speed & agility training 2/3 times a week, I have hitting lessons once a week and then I pitch 5 days a week with different focuses each session of either spin or speed.

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

My plan for the future is to play in college. I want to have a platform to Glorify to God. For next year, continuing to improve everyday is my objective. Focusing on my process keeps me grounded and doesn’t let the outside noise distract me from my goals.

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

My biggest challenge would be managing my workload to stay healthy and also stay on top of my grades. So I rely on my parents to make sure I am not overdoing my work and keeping rest/ sleep a priority.

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

My biggest advice would be to stay focused on your journey and not compare yourself to anyone else. Have a strong relationship with God to trust his plan for you and begin working on your mental game as soon as you can.

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

My favorite player growing up is/was Montana Fouts. I loved her composure on the mound and then her faith was shown through her platform. She had the saying “Be a blessing” and I loved thinking about how I could be a blessing to others and not be focused on being blessed myself.

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

I think my question would be about her journey to get to Alabama (training, playing, recruiting) and then how she decided to use her platform to show her faith?

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

Just trust the plan God has for you. Sometimes things might not go the way you want them to but his plan is perfect, and will shown through time.