Work at something consistently and you will get better at it. Ryen Gaddis, a senior at Del City High School says this is the most valuable gift softball has given her.

“No matter how difficult it got I never quit or gave up because it was a part of me. It’s a part of my routine and who I am. The simple fact that I get better every year is just more ammo for me to keep going to see how good I can really get,”she said.

For Ryen softball is a sisterhood. It brings together people from different backgrounds where they become sisters despite differences. “We spend more time with our softball family than any of our other family so it’s a great bond.”

Ryen admires Odeci Alexander, who led James Madison University to their first Women’s College World Series. “She really gave a lot of black girls who don’t know too much about the sport some representation on one of the highest levels and it just felt so good to see someone who looks like me show that we can do it. That’s something I hope to accomplish in my future.”

Teammate, Maliyah Patton’s advice after a hard game to give more effort and not show frustration when things go wrong follows Ryen to this day. “I was really good and knew the game well,” explains Ryen, “she told me I was capable of being on TV and I just always thought about that moment because it’s different when you have others telling you what you’re capable of.”

Ryen’s biggest supporter and #1 fan is her mom. “No matter how hard life got we never went without and she just got the job done regardless. That’s the kind of person I want to be,” she says.

Ryen is a role model at DCHS representing her school in softball, track, NHS and STUCO.