Teagan Calkins zooms to the front of the pack as a cross country runner. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)
Teagan Calkins is ahead of the pack.
The ever-active Coupeville student/athlete, who will be an eighth-grader this fall, has spent much of her time playing ahead of her age group.
At age 12, Calkins is the youngest member of the Whidbey Island All-Star juniors softball team, which just concluded a successful four-game run at the state tourney.
While in Vancouver, she played in the outfield and caught, while being the team’s second most-productive hitter at the plate.
The youngest girl on the Whidbey Island All-Star junior softball squad, Calkins played strongly at the state tournament. (Jackie Saia photos)
It’s just the latest highlight for Calkins, who has also played soccer, cross country, basketball, and volleyball, while participating in gymnastics and taekwondo.
It’s a busy sports lifestyle, but one she plans to keep going. When she hits high school in a year, Calkins hopes to play volleyball, basketball, and softball, while also staying with taekwondo.
While she enjoys all her sports, softball and volleyball currently top the list.
“Softball because I enjoy kinda being in charge of the field, because of the positions I play, which are center field and catcher,” Calkins said. “Volleyball because I like diving and receiving a lot. I like playing libero.”
Calkins flies home with a run.
Regardless of the sport, being active and involved are big for her, and she embraces the exciting aspect of each activity.
“I like the adrenaline rush and being focused on one thing,” Calkins said. “To leave everything else behind and just focus on the sport.”
Away from competition, she enjoys math class (“I’ve just always loved math, and I’m really good at it”), and has shown a keen eye as a photographer, emulating mom Jackie Saia.
Already a star, at age six.
On the field, or court, or trail, or mat, Calkins brings energy and fearlessness to everything she does.
“My strengths are having motivation to dive to get the ball in both softball and volleyball and having good stamina,” she said.
“I’d like to work on how to play every position if I’m needed in softball, and “crashing” to stop the ball at catcher,” Calkins added. “I’d also like to work on pitching … release point, and speed, and how to do different releases for different pitches.”
To get to where she is, and to get to where she wants to be, Calkins has benefited from strong coaching, something she highly appreciates.
“Coach Fred (Farris) has coached me in softball for five years and taught me pretty much everything I know,” she said.
“When I was put in higher level volleyball camp and being the only 7th grader on an all-8th grade team, I was coached by coach Cris (Matochi).
“He was very encouraging and positive.”
You go, Teagan! The sky is the limit.