Jenna Wheeler

Jenna Wheeler, senior, has been playing softball since she was in kindergarten. For Wheeler, one of the things that pushed her to play was her family’s connection to the sport.

“My older sister played it. My older cousins played it, and my mom too,” Wheeler said. “So I just went into it as well.”

After moving through recreational and club teams through her life, she now plays for varsity. 

Playing center field, Wheeler is a team captain this season. 

“[This season] I want to just try our best to not lose, and also not get in our heads,” Wheeler said. “Just to be friends and play it loose.”

Though the first portion of the team’s last season wasn’t as successful as many hoped, the team made a comeback in the second half of the year. Despite starting off their season with a 0-17 record and changing coaches in the middle of the season, the team made it to quarter finals. 

“[Losing a coach] was a big challenge for us because we ended up getting a new head coach midway through the season,” Wheeler said. “But we love her. She’s the best.”

Head coach Gina Garvey-Metzler is working with the team again this season. Previous to becoming a coach, she played on her high school’s softball team.

“She’s amazing. She’s very supportive of all of us and encouraging and super chill,” Wheeler said. “She knows what she’s doing.”

Coming into this season, Wheeler has set goals both herself and the team to set them up for success.

“[I want to work on] playing as a team and not individually,” Wheeler said. 

After this year, Wheeler is committed to play softball at Pacific University