TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - Experience is the name of the game for North Florida Christian's Allyson Turner - but growing from an fresh faced middle schooler to a cool and calm senior wasn't always easy.
"The first couple years were tough!" she laughed. "You played behind the older girls and did everything they did, and you tried to do whatever they did so one day you could actually be out there playing."
So Allyson watched and learned that first year, and ever since her eighth grade season, she's been a constant force in the Eagle's starting line-up, especially this year as the only senior.
"Whenever she gets on the field in between these fences, whether she had a good day or bad day she's focused on the game," said head coach Dennis Gorham, who's coached Allyson ever year of her Varsity career. "She's ready to go and that's a calming presence."
"I'm the only one with a senior mindset," she added. "There's a lot of young girls. I'm just trying to help out and be there for all the juniors. Them stepping up next year will be a big deal."
What's also a big deal? Allyson's 3.68 GPA, and that combination of academics and athletics earned her a scholarship to play at Thomas University.
"I've worked so hard since I was eight years old just to be able to play in college and get a scholarship to play in college for four years," she said. "Now that it's real- I'm almost there!"
"She knows one day softball is going to end," said coach Gorham. "Academics are going to take her a lot further. Academically it's a great institution and she knows that's going to be her future. The focus in the classroom is going to take her a lot further in life."
But before softball ends, Allyson's looking to lead this group back to State, and play for a Championship one more time.
"I've grown up with these girls and growing up with them and working hard with them, we're just trying to make it back to State again," said Allyson. "We just have to finish strong. Then Districts, and State - we're planning to go!"
