A True Teammate

From the early days of Tee-Ball to the competitive grind of travel softball, freshman and Franklin Township native Kaylie Grayson has always played with a singular focus — to be the best version of herself, both on and off the field. 

“I do want to be the best player I can be, 100 percent, but if I couldn’t be the player I could be, I would 100 percent rather be the best teammate and push other people on,” Grayson said. 

Kaylie attributes her team-focused mentality to her dad, who coached her travel softball team, the Indiana Gators. It was with five of her fellow travel teammates that Grayson committed to Franklin College. 

“Shortly after I committed, all the other girls started committing too; it was like a train,” Grayson said. “It was so fun. Knowing when you come into college, and you have a group, it’s so much nicer.” 

Now a freshman on the Franklin College women’s softball team, Kaylie brings her team-first mentality to the field as she embarks on her dream of playing college softball. 

“Not only are you making yourself happy, but you’re making your little self proud,” she said. 

While she has only been on campus for a few weeks, Grayson says she has enjoyed getting to know her fellow teammates and enjoys the team dynamic. “Here, everyone is really connected. It’s like, if we’re going to hang out, everyone goes,” she said. 

When facing tough games or long practices, Grayson turns to routines that keep her grounded. She spoke openly about past struggles and how she learned to handle pressure. 

“Everybody has struck out before, everyone’s overthrown a ball,” she said. “So why would I put myself down if I wouldn’t put my teammate down for that?” 

Her faith has also played a major role. During high school, she carried a small Jesus figure in her pocket during games — a symbol of her trust in something bigger than herself. 

“I was very reliant on God, I think that’s why I did a lot better my senior year,” she said. “It’s not in my hands, it’s in God’s hands.” 

She attributes her decision to commit to Franklin to Coach Brittney Harvey, noting that they connected on a personal level through Harvey’s coaching style. That connection, combined with the small-school atmosphere, played a major role in Kaylie’s choice. 

Kaylie attributes her love for sports to her family. Her parents were both athletes. Her younger brother, JJ, plays baseball in high school. As she looks ahead, on and off the field,  

Kaylie plans to major in elementary education and hopes to grow into both the best teacher and teammate she can be. 

By Chloe White