Meet Alicia Hollowell, age 26 from Sacramento, California. An outstanding professional softball player, Alicia has played for the US national team and for the Akron Racers. In 2001, she was the Gatorade Player of the Year and recently she had the opportunity to present that same award to Kasey Fagan of Dunnellon High School.
Girls Can’t WHAT? caught up with Alicia to ask about the challenges she has faced in her career as a professional athlete.
GCW: When did you first become interested in Softball?
Alicia: I first became interested when I was in 4th grade. All of my friends were playing softball with the local rec leagues, and we kept getting flyers for the leagues in the mail, so asked parents to let me play.
GCW: What drives your passion for this sport?
Alicia: My competitive nature – I hate to lose. This fire drove me every day that I played to get better and push harder. As a coach, my goal is to install in my players that same competitive fire and will to be the best. Sports can be a male-dominated field.
GCW: Have you ever been told you “can’t” because you are a girl?
Alicia: I was never told I couldn’t, but I was constantly challenged by boys, especially baseball players, that thought I wasn’t as good as they were. I took them up on all of their challenges, and I struck them out, proving girls can hang.
GCW: That is fantastic! Do you have a favorite event or memory?
Alicia: Winning the national championship in 2006 – great way to wrap up career with great teammates and win last game on the field, defining moment.
GCW: How would you encourage other girls who are interested playing softball? What advice can you give them?
Alicia: Love the game. Loving the game, and having that passion, makes everything easier – easier to train every day, play your best, and put in the time, blood, sweat and tears.
GCW: What other interests do you have?
Alicia: Crafts, including sewing, knitting and painting, and just doing creative projects and being able to see the finished product.
GCW: How did it feel to win the Gatorade Player of the Year Softball award back in 2001 – 02?
Alicia: It was incredibly exciting, and I felt honored that I won the award. When it happened, I really could not believe that I had won, and I was in the company of such stellar athletes.
GCW: How did winning the Player of the Year award impact your collegiate career and professional growth?
Alicia: Winning the award really helped me boost my confidence. It was like a light bulb went off and I realized that I really was that good and I needed to continue moving my game forward. It helped me commit 100% to softball.
GCW: How did it feel to surprise Kasey with the Softball Player of the Year award this year?
Alicia: It was so exciting. I remember how fun it was to win, and to be a part of surprising her and seeing that shock on her face was an honor.
1 comment
kenna
i get so nervous when i try out for a team i am 13 and wanted for a 16 team i was soooo nervous