GREAT GLOVES

Huskies Get Inspirational Inscriptions // By Mason Kelley

By Washington Huskies

April 11^th, 2019

It was the season of the unicorn. Washington’s softball team was on a ride that would take them all the way to College World Series. The Huskies were a club to remember, a group filled with unique personalities who celebrated their differences as a way to build a stronger team.

As the program prepared for its postseason run, I was tasked with capturing the personality of the players in a photoshoot, coming up with ways to showcase the athletes off the field as a way to highlight what made them work so well on it.

During that shoot, I noticed an inscription stitched into the glove of former Washington standout Taylor Van Zee. It read, “Saved by grace” and I thought it was a powerful detail. But, after capturing the image, I didn’t get a chance to follow up, to get the meaning behind the message.

While working on a similar photoshoot this season, I started to notice other inscriptions. Each player put time into coming up with little meaningful reminders they can look at in high-pressure situations, notes to help them get through anything they may experience over the course of a season. From Bible passages, to flags and personal slogans, each athlete customized their glove with something special.

When Brittany Werre was in fourth grade, she joined Los Angeles County Junior Lifeguards program.

She was terrified of the ocean.

Every day, the kids in the program would have to complete a buoy swim. She would fight big waves and, on several occasions, had to swim through packs of jellyfish.

“I cried in the car every morning on the drive down to the beach thanks to my fear and lack of trust and confidence in my abilities,” said Werre, now a senior.

But, while the task frightened her, Werre made herself do it each day, every summer for four years. During the drive to the beach each morning, Werre’s mother encouraged her daughter by saying “Swim to the Buoy.”

“She encouraged me to have confidence, to trust the process, and to believe in myself,” Werre said. “Ultimately, it didn't matter what place I finished in upon completion of the buoy swim. What mattered was that I finished the swim and did it to the best of my ability. That's exactly what I want to be able to say when my softball career comes to a close in a few short months.

“I want to be able to look back and say that I approached everything with confidence, trusted the process and finished strong.”

When Werre was trying to come up with something to get stitched into her glove before the season, she couldn’t find an idea. Then she thought back to those buoy swims. Her inscription is a tribute to her mother’s encouragement: “Swim To The Buoy.”

And, now, “every time I look down at my glove, I will be reminded of all the hardships I have overcome and the strength it took to get to where I am today. Those buoy swims are now a distant memory, but a great reminder nonetheless and motivation to finish the task at hand.”

Werre chose a memory. Some of her teammates – Morgan Allen, Morganne Flores and Taran Alvelo, among others – chose their heritage.

For Allen, her glove inscription provided the opportunity for two messages. She started with the Irish flag.

“I am Irish and my family is very proud of it,” she said. “Since I was little, we have had our Irish family crest all over everything, and we hang the Irish flag in our house as well!”

Next to the green, white and orange flag it reads: “HE>I.”

“I put Jesus before myself,” she said. “I am Christian and everything I do is through Jesus Christ and I will always remember to put him before myself and everything. It allows me to remember to play through him.”

Both Flores and Alvelo have similar reasons for the insignias on their gloves. The seniors are honoring their Puerto Rican roots.

“I have a Puerto Rican flag on my glove and that represents part of me, when I look down at my glove it reminds me what I am playing for, and where I come from,” Flores said. “It reminds me that I am playing for something greater than myself.”

Alvelo, who has “Yo Soy Boricua” on her glove, added, “It means, I’m Puerto Rican and I’m proud. I’m proud of my heritage. I’m proud of my roots that I get from my father’s side. I didn’t spend my whole life growing up there and learning the culture. It’s something that I’ve adopted and grown into as I’ve gotten older and connected with.

“No matter how little or how much Puerto Rican blood you may have, the island and the people will take you in. They will love you. They will cheer for you and they will make sure you never forget what it’s like to have that pride.”

When Rachel Ogasawara looks down at her glove, she is reminded of her favorite quote, an homage to a baseball legend.

“I have the inscription ‘never give up 18,’” Ogasawara said. “Never give up is just a shorter version of the quote that I keep very close to my heart: ‘It’s hard to beat a person who never gives up.’ – Babe Ruth. This quote is something I live by. If I’m struggling at practice or in the classroom I just tell myself never give up and keep pushing.”

For each Washington player, that small glove inscription adds a personal touch to a team endeavor. Like last year’s unicorns, this group continues to celebrate the individual traits that make them special as they build another memorable season together.

Success is in the details for the Huskies. And the glove inscriptions are just one more little thing, quick reminders that always bring smiles to the players’ faces, regardless of the situation.

So, the next time you watch Washington, if you see Sis Bates take a quick moment to look down at her glove, she is probably just stealing a quick glance at her inscription, three words perfect for just about any situation: “Keep it simple.”