TALLAHASSEE, Fl. (WTXL) - From the moment North Florida Christian senior Chloe Culp stepped onto the softball field as an Eagle, her coaches knew she'd be special.
"As a sixth grader, she was already outworking everybody," remembered head coach Dennis Gorham. "That work ethic has gotten stronger every single year. All seven years, it's gotten stronger." Seven years in, and Culp finds herself in a reversed role, the only senior on a team full of young talent.
"It's just crazy to think that I started when I was their age, and now they're starting when I started," she laughed. "It's awesome to see people grow and mature, and hopefully I can help these younger girls get them introduced to the game."
"She comes in here and she takes on all these little girls like little sisters. It's a seamless transition.," added Gorham. "When she shows up everyday, there's a noticeable age difference, but she doesn't treat them that way."
For Culp, it's about giving back, and not just on the field. She's also setting an example in the classroom with a 3.84 GPA.
"I knew that if I wanted to play softball at an elite level that I was going to have to make good grades," she said. "I can't just be an elite athlete. I have to make good grades as well."
Hard work has paid off. This fall, she signed a scholarship to play softball at Florida State,
"I wasn't thinking about when I was 11 I was going to get to go to Florida State or anywhere," Culp remembered. "I just wanted to play in college, and I really just kept working hard and it kind of just took over from there."
"Our girls on our team, our young girls can go see what the hard work in high school paid off in college, and that's just going to help them with their goals," added Gorham. "Every girl watches everything Chloe does every single day. She just leads by a great example."
An example seven years in the making.
