Featured Athlete of the Week: Mattie Varvel, Softball South Putnam High School

Senior Mattie Varvel, 18, is a versatile athlete for the South Putnam Eagles. She lettered in four sports during high school -- cross country, volleyball, basketball and softball -- and has been named to All-County teams in both basketball and softball. Varvel moved from forward to point guard during her senior basketball season and in softball she plays first base, third base and pitcher. She is an honor student and a member of National Honor Society, and she also keeps stats for the football team in the fall. Her favorite class is psychology, taught by Zach Love, and she also enjoys math. In her rare spare time, she enjoys playing softball, hanging out with her friends and talking to her mom, Leanne, whom she considers her role model. Her mom, dad (David), and brother (Dean) each helped her get into sports. Varvel's favorite TV show is "Big Bang Theory" and she loves country music, especially Taylor Swift.

Banner Graphic: Do you like to watch softball, or just to play it?

Mattie Varvel: I just play it. I watch it sometimes with my dad, but I'd rather go play something than go watch it.

BG: When did you start playing softball?

MV: I was very little. Maybe six in tee-ball when my mom was my coach. I played at Terre Haute for a little big, and my mom was also the coach then. I played travel in the summer and then I got to high school.

BG: So did you like softball right away?

MV: At first they made me pitch and I didn't like it at all, but I was kind of put in that position. (Because I'm tall) and I was one of the only ones that knew what I was doing. As I got older, my dad wanted me to play travel ball and I started to do it and it's been a part of me ever since and I love it.

BG: Normally you play first base, but you also pitch a little bit and now you're playing third base. In basketball you're a forward and a point guard. Is it harder to play that many different positions?

MV: It's more fun. I love playing all the positions. It just kind of comes to me I guess. I just work hard for it and I do what the coach tells me.

BG: What is your training like?

MV: I used to practice during the week when it wasn't softball season, for my travel ball team. I play three sports, so I was busy all the time.

BG: How much does it help to be so close with all your teammates?

MV: It helps so much. It's a good feeling to know that you have people that really care and want to see you do good. It lets you know that you're not alone in what you do.

BG: Do you have individual or team goals this year?

MV: Individually, I want to get all-conference this year. I want to get all-county this year. I want to work hard to play for my team because they mean a lot to me. This whole team means so much to me.
I want to see my seniors succeed in everything. They've been the best people in my life so far. I want to see us win county. I want to see us win sectionals and beat Cascade. I want to beat Cascade really bad. We'll see how far we go in the tournament.

BG: What are your plans after high school?

MV: I'm going to play softball at Hanover College. I'm majoring in kinesiology. I don't know what I'm minoring in yet. I plan to be a physical therapist.