Are you an athlete considering playing your sport in college? Are you looking for advice or first hand experience?

I recently got the chance to talk to Julia Rigney, a freshman at Mount Saint Mary’s College in Newburgh, New York. She graduated from VHS last year, and spent all four of her years at Verona playing for the softball. Now’s she adjusting to life and softball at college, and here is what she has to say:

Q: Even though the softball season hasn’t started yet, are you doing a lot of preseason workouts?

A: We had a fall season that lasted about a month. We practiced for a few days for a couple of weeks, then we had one tournament day we played three games of six innings. Starting after winter break, we have workouts like lifting and conditioning.

Q: Do you know what your schedule is going to look like once the season actually starts?

A: Each day we will have about two and a half hour practices six days a week. Then, we will play games about two to three times a week once games start. It’s cool because we will be traveling to different areas of New York.

Q: How has it been adjusting to college softball? Did you have trouble adjusting to school work and softball? What have you done to manage your time?

A: At first, it was hard to adjust, but over time I was able to work it out. It just took some time to get used to it. I created a routine that I follow when in season so that I am able to manage my time well.

Q: What has been the biggest difference between high school and college softball?

A: The level of intensity. The training that I have now is very different and hardcore.

Q: Was there anything that surprised you about college softball?

A: How close everyone is. Our regular season hasn’t even started yet, but we are all always hanging out. It already feels like one big family.

Q: What advice would you give people that are considering playing in college?

A: If people are considering playing, they should one hundred percent go for it. They also need to work hard because it is a big commitment, but at the end of the day it will be one of the best decisions they’ll ever make.