SKYLER RODGERS

Tuttle Tigers

Winning teams are often loaded with highly skilled athletes. But what sets championship teams above the rest is leadership by example. When talented players forge relationships with their teammates to ignite a spirit of unity and desire, winning both on and off the field will follow. At Tuttle High School, such a player is Skyler Rodgers, a three-year starter who enters her junior season with one thing on her mind.

“Being a three-year starter is not a given. Each year when practices start I have to go out there with the mindset that no one is going to work harder or beat me out. That comes with having to stay consistent while always having my teammates’ backs, but also with the responsibility of being a leader and encouraging the incoming underclassmen to have the same competitive yet positive mindset so that together we can and will accomplish our goal of winning a state championship.”

Sklyer’s playmaking talents are top notch with her glove or at the plate and those efforts paint a picture of the passion that beats in her heart.

“Softball brings me so much joy.  Being on the field with my girls, making a diving play in a big game, or hitting a gap shot or dinger to score a run to take the lead in the bottom of the seventh inning are just moments you can’t recreate in any other portion of your life,” Skyler said with a smile. “Playing softball is a big part of my life and it has shaped me into the person I am today.”

The combination of passion for the game, matched with skill and leadership is what her coach Rebecca Cobb truly admires in Skyler who also maintains a 4.125 GPA.

“Skyler is a great student athlete that works hard everyday, on and off the field. She is so dependable to come through in the clutch by making the big play on defense or putting the ball in play to help us score runs. She strives to always set the example for the young athletes to follow.”

While Tuttle seeks a return to the Class 4A state tournament, for Skyler Rodgers, who has played softball since the age of four, it’s all about TEAM.

“Being a leader is not about what I may want, but more about what the team needs,” said Skyler. “True leaders have Mudita – taking delight in others’ successes and well-being. In order to make yourself better. There is a mutual benefit tomaking others around you better through mentorship, followership, and leadership. To me, true leadership is about building up those around you and helping them become and be their best.”

And in the end, Skyler and the Lady Tigers will continue to win every day the Tuttle way.