By Chris Cox

Fairland sophomore Calli Moncada has seen the ups and downs in her softball career. She is in the process of coming back from an injury and, while she is playing, she is hoping all of her rehab will pay off and she can eventually become a full-time starter for the Owls. 

“I broke my ankle for the third time,” she says. “I’ve broken both but this second time for my right ankle. The recovery has been challenging but I finally feel like it’s getting back to 100 percent.” 

Moncada, who plays all over the field, admits there is some concern and fear in the back of her mind, but she is just learning to trust the work she’s put in during the rehab process and tries to push that fear out when the game gets underway. 

Given her experience rehabbing injuries, Moncada says she hopes to use that experience in her life after high school.

“I want to play a sport in college but I also want to get my degree in physical therapy,” she says. “Since I’ve gone through a lot of injuries, I think it would be something I could help people with since I know the ins and outs of it.” 

Moncada and the Owls are a young team with no seniors on the roster. With a young squad, Moncada says that she is trying to lead when the opportunity presents itself.

“Since we don’t any seniors and just a few juniors, I’m just trying to step up and be a leader,” she says. “I try to encourage everyone to not get down on themselves and encourage everyone to work well together.”

That mindset of teamwork and encouragement comes from her belief of what good character looks like, something she credits to her old travel ball coach and former teammate, Austin Kinsey and Aubrey Kinsey.

“Character, to me, is being positive and not negative,” she says. “Even if you’re having a bad game or a bad day, you can’t let it affect you. You have to get it out of your mind and know there’s always next time. There’s always another at-bat or another chance for you to prove yourself.”

Moncada is busy student-athlete. Along with softball, Calli plays for the Fairland basketball and runs track. She also is involved in gymnastics, student council, and FCCLA. 

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