Paige Igou knows that success in softball doesn’t come without hard work and dedication. Whether it’s staying late after practice for extra reps or pushing through challenges, she embraces every moment on the field. “My week usually involves school, practice, or games. If we aren’t having games, then after practice, I will usually go to the cages or field to hit and take some ground balls or pop flies,” Igou said.
Softball has been a part of Igou’s life for as long as she can remember, and she credits her love for the sport to the competitive nature and the relationships it has helped her build. “I have been playing ever since I was three years old. Softball has always been in my life, but I think what inspired me was the competitive nature of it and my love and passion for the game,” she said. “I enjoy spending time with my teammates and being able to make memories with them.”
As a leader on the Kiowa softball team, Igou takes her responsibilities seriously. “The role on my team is to be the leader and the role model—not by my words, but through my actions, my attitude, and how I play the game,” she said. “How I prepare myself for it is to just tell myself to be positive and go out there and play like every game could be my last.”
One of her proudest moments came last season when she and her team proved their doubters wrong. “The most memorable moment would be when we won regionals because we were a young team with little experience,” she recalled. “Some of us had to step up and fill in spots, and we also exceeded everyone’s expectations after making it through the first round of state.”
With her senior year approaching, Igou has big goals. “My goals and hopes would be making it to state and hopefully winning a state championship with my team,” she said. “It is such a privilege to be able to go to state all my three years, and hopefully, this season will be the time we make it to the final game.”
