Playing a sport in college is a dream for many athletes but it is not something just any athlete can do. It takes a lot of talent and commitment to even be considered to play for a college team. However, this dream became a reality for senior softball player Anya Gesin.
With all the hard work Gesin had put towards softball, she earned a commitment to play Division 1 softball at Bay Path University in Longmeadow, Massachusetts. Along with playing softball at Bay Path, Gesin plans to study neuroscience, with her ultimate goal being to go into research and become a social worker. Studying neuroscience as a major where she can help people and learn more about the human mind has always been a big interest of hers.
Gesin started softball when she was ten years old. After trying out other sports, this was the one she fell in love with instantly. She started out playing for a Westford recreational team and slowly joined clubs to enhance her talent and get ready for high school softball.
It was during her freshman year that Gesin began to consider playing softball in college. However, after making the varsity team during sophomore year, Gesin knew that she wanted to play in college and aimed to get a scholarship.
“I really started to get serious about it [the summer transitioning from] freshman year into sophomore year […] and I thought, ‘I know this is the level I want to play at, this seems comfortable to me,'” Gesin said.
Gesin reached out to the Bay Path softball coach, and sent her schedule over. Soon after, Bay Path’s coach attended some of her games and tournaments to see if she was a good fit. In Division 1, the final steps of the commitment process are spending a night at the college and practicing with the team.
For Gesin, getting into Bay Path before she had even heard back from the coach about the commitment was exciting to her because this was her top choice for schools academically as well. But what made everything better was when she got the call from the head coach with the offer. Right away, Gesin was ready to verbally commit.
“[Getting the call] was really exciting, and it felt like my hard work had finally paid off,” Gesin said.
During Gesin’s three years on the WA Varsity Softball team, she formed special bonds with her coach as well as her teammates.
Her senior teammate and friend Mikayla Creighton would not have been a part of the softball family without Gesin’s encouragement.
“[Gesin] got me into playing softball freshman year. I was completely new to softball and she taught me everything I know about softball,” Creighton said. “She always contributed a lot to the softball program […] and has always [provided] helpful information whenever it was needed.”
According to Gesin, she has received much support from her teammates and mother throughout the whole commitment process. Her mother has helped her with writing emails to coaches, attending all her games, and being her overall biggest supporter.
Teammates of Gesin have gotten to know her throughout high school and during softball season, seeing her grow and interact with others.
“[Gesin] has always been very positive at games and practices. She is an incredible leader for anyone who is struggling but she is always respectful when giving feedback. [Gesin] knows how to keep her composure and even if she is frustrated she will not let it affect how she plays,” senior co-captain Sanvi Luthra said.
Gesin has continued to encourage friends and teammates to put their best effort towards games as well as practices. According to head coach Gina Mustoe, even when she had a health issue, she never let her low energy show, attending practices and games while keeping a positive attitude and cheering everyone on.
According to Mustoe, Gesin has helped make the WA Softball team feel like more of a family than just a team with her positivity and kindness, as well as her overall attitude towards problems or any issues.
“[Gesin] is dedicated, she’s positive, she’s tenacious, [and] she’s respectful to the umpires as well as our staff and team,” Mustoe said.
With senior year comes the time where Gesin will eventually part ways with Westford Academy and her softball teammates as they all move on to the next chapter. Gesin is excited for what is to come at her top choice school, and is looking forward to being on a Division 1 team.
