Littlefield senior athlete, Bryndle Ray, signed her Letter of Intent on December 16th, to continue her softball and Academic career at Nelson University in Waxahachie, Tx.
The senior talked about how it feels to be signed and know where she is heading after graduation, saying, “It’s an amazing feeling to see all my hard work pay off. Officially signing takes a lot of pressure off and I am just grateful and ready for this next chapter.”
Ray explained that she knew from a young age that she wanted to push herself to play college softball.
“ After Littlefield All-Stars, when I was eightyears old, I told my dad that I wanted to keep playing,” she said. “That is when he helped me find a team in Lubbock to play fall ball, which led to a travel ball team.”
She added, “I have been playing softball year round ever since. That is probably when I first thought about playing at the next level.”
Ray has stared for the Lady Cat Softball team for four years, as well as being a four year varsity volleyball player and cheer leader. She has also ran track for the Lady Cats all four years of her high school career as well.
Ray has earned numerous awards and recognition’s during her time as a Lady Cat. She was named second-team All-District Shortstop as a freshman and earned first-team All-District Shortstop as a sophomore and junior. She has also been an Academic All-District selection in every sport she has played each of her four years of high school In her other sports, she earned honorable mention for volleyball during her junior year and was a secondteam All-District volleyball selection during her senior year this past fall. She also earned THSCA first team All-State for volleyball during her senior year and also earned the LHS outstanding Track Award during her junior year.
Ray has also gotten it done in the classroom, where she is in the top 10percent of her class: She has been a member of the Court of Honor during her 9th, 10th and 11th grade years. She earned the Highest Class Average in Business Management, during her sophomore year and the Highest Class Average in Anatomy and Physiology, during her junior year.
Ray talked about how her coaches have helped her on throughout her softball career, saying, “Adriana Perez has been my hitting coach since I was 10-years old. I have been playing on her travel team for the past three years. She has confidence in me when I do not see it myself and she believes in me and has helped shape me into the athlete I am today.”
She added, “Coach Thomas has always pushed me with track and believed that I could do anything, which has been a great asset for softball. Coach O, having played at the next level herself, she knows what it takes and the commitment it takes. When having coaches believe in you, even when you are not having a great day, that helps with confidence and my mind set to know if these people believe in me, then I Can do anything”!
The senior talked about what it means to her to have earned this opportunity from Nelson, stating, “ I feel Nelson University is a fit for me, not only for the athletic side but the academic side as well.”
She added, “I have been in close contact with Coach Watkins and Coach Graham on numerous occasions. I went to two prospective camps at Nelson University and after receiving an offer from Coach Watkins, I went back to visit with them on a more personal level.” She added, “The coaches love the Lord and want all athletes to grow in their faith along with exceeding in the classroom.”
Ray stated that she will be playing outfield for the Nelson Lions.
She talked about the recruiting process, stating she attended prospect camps every weekend last summer where Junior College, NAIA, D3, D2 and D1 coaches would attend. “ I was in contact with several other colleges like Oklahoma Wesleyan, Southwestern Christian, Frank Philips and a few others but I believe Nelson University is the right fit for me,” she explained.
“It was a great opportunity but also very stressful. I had to rely on God’s help in making the decision in knowing what would be a good fit for me.”
Ray talked about what she’s most looking forward to about playing college softball, saying, “I am looking forward to meeting new people that have the same desire for the sport as I do.”
She talked about the support she has gotten from her family, saying, “My parents have taken me to multiple tournaments for the past 10 years along with numerous prospect camps. They have walked this journey with me. They of course paid for everything: the lessons, dues, tournament fees, hotel rooms, food, gas, equipment and uniforms.”
She added, “If I needed it, they found a way to get it for me so that I had the opportunity to play the sport that I love so much. They have always been my biggest cheerleaders and believed in me. At least one or both of them have attended every game no matter what.”
Ray talked about what it has meant to her to be able to represent the Littlefield Lady Cats, saying, “It is a great honor to show people how hard I have worked and the effort I have put in to be where I am today.”
Ray stated that her favorite memory of being a Lady Cat, is hitting her first homerun as a Lady Cat during her freshman year over the big wall in Floydada and celebrating it with her teammates.
The senior talked about the growth she has seen in herself over her career, saying, “I have seen growth in my Faith and letting God lead the way in my academic and athletic career.
Ray plans to major in Kinesiology at Nelson University.