Four years of college softball have been a personal journey for senior Catcher Maggie Sholian, who played two years at Providence in Rhode Island before returning to her native Portland to finish her career as a Viking.
 
She thinks what she's learned has made her a more effective teammate. Head Coach Tobin Echo-Hawk agrees.
 
“Maggie really has come into her own this year. She has stepped up as a vocal leader,” said Echo-Hawk.
 
It's taken some time to get there, though, and Sholian describes her biggest challenge on the field as learning to deal with failure.
  
“Softball is physically taxing and probably has more potential for feeling failure than other sports because if you hit the ball three out of 10 times, you've done really well,” she said. “I've learned to take things with a grain of salt, not taking things too seriously, unless they are serious. I've learned just to keep working on things and try to get better.”
  
It seems to have come together for Sholian this year.
    
“She has offered our team a lot of leadership this year. She's a very intelligent and has matured as a player, ” said Echo-Hawk. “You can see a drive in her to succeed. She is willing to put in the time and effort to be successful.”
      
Sholian accepted an offer to play for Providence out of Lake Oswego High School. Like a lot of kids, she just wanted to get away from home. Rhode Island qualifies in that department.
     
Early on at Providence, she learned one important lesson about dealing with the demands of college athletics and a college academic curriculum.
    
“High school was easy for me, I really never had to work too hard. I thought college would be the same, but it wasn't. I've always been organized, but not to this extent. So, I changed after my freshman year,” said Sholian, who has a 3.98 GPA in child and family studies and is plans to enter graduate school for either family law or marriage and family counseling.

Also, Sholian was dealing with some personal issues at the East Coast school and decided to come back. Since PSU was an easy commute (she lived at home her first year here), becoming a Viking was a no-brainer.
     
And, Echo-Hawk gladly welcomed in Sholian, who was a four-time first team All-Three Rivers League selection and a third team all-state honoree as a senior.
   
“She really adds so much to the team. You can see that the team has been impacted by her presence on the field. It is really nice to see her have success on the field,” Echo-Hawk said of Sholian, who is splitting catching duties this year with sophomore Kayla Norrie.
      
An advantage to being at PSU is that her family, especially dad Dan, can watch her play. The transition from Providence was helped by having former high school summer ball teammates playing for the Vikings. Still, it didn't come without some mental adjustments on her part.
    
Sholian believes her game has improved most in the mental department. “I've learned not to show that I'm disappointed. I may feel failure internally, but I don't' show it. I stay pretty calm and I think that helps the team. Other people feed off that.”
     
“Maggie is someone who keeps things light and fun. She has offered our team a lot of leadership this year,” agreed Echo-Hawk.
     
Keeping it light and fun is something she's had to learn to do and a big part of the advice she'd give to incoming freshmen on the team.
   
“I'd probably say make sure you're still having fun. There was a point I wasn't having fun, I was going through the motions. But, that changed this year. Softball is something I love and I learned not to put too much pressure on myself. I've learned a lot about myself, how to handle situations when I feel pressure,” she said.
    
Sholian began catching in grade school and discovered an affinity for the position early on. “I like being involved in everything. If you're a catcher, it's a mental game, more than a physical one. You call out plays and direct everyone on the field. I like being a leader on the field.“
    
She also likes the team aspect of the game.
    
“I don't think I could play an individual sport. We get excited for each other. I like that aspect,” she said.
            
Disappointments?  

“Well, when I look back there might be some things I would want to change. But, all these experiences have made me who I am. So, I wouldn't change them. I'm very comfortable in my own skin.”
    
Overall, she said, “the opportunity to play and to meet other people, in the end, I look back and am really glad I played all four years.”
       
Added Echo-Hawk:  “We are very fortunate to have her on this team. She has made such an impact on everyone in the short time she has been here.”