Bethel’s Layla Menhusen might only be a freshman, but she has already tried to step into a leadership role with the Wildcat softball team.

“Being a catcher, you’re seen as a leader,” she says. “Coming in as a freshman, I want to be known as a leader. So, I’ve tried to start that early. I try to hustle in practice, communicate in games, and be coachable.”

Freshmen trying to step into leadership roles can be tough, but Menhusen says her older teammates, and coach Tara Satterfield, have done a great job embracing her and the rest of the Bethel freshmen.

“They’ve been very, very good to us,” she says. “They definitely consider us as one of them and have been great.” Those relationships have been one of the reasons Menhusen has played softball since she was five. But another big reason she continues to play is because of her love of competition.

“I love beating people. It’s one of my favorite things,” she says with a chuckle. “I’m so competitive and softball brings that out in me.”

While Menhusen is new to high school softball, that hasn’t stopped her from setting some big goals for herself and her team.

“I want to hit at least one out,” she says. “I also just want to be the best and get to state.”

Menhusen’s goal with softball is to eventually earn a scholarship to play in college and she knows that will take a lot of work.

“I feel like if I don’t work hard now, I’ll get going too late,” she says. “So, I just want to work hard now to get that to pay off in college.”

Beyond hard work and strong play, Menhusen knows her character will also be a part of that evaluation by colleges.

“I know it’s about how I show myself,” she says. “I try to be coachable and be a leader. I also try to have a good and positive attitude all the time.”

Off the diamond, Menhusen says busy with basketball and track.