Softball season never ends for Xavier’s Stephanie Wehr

CEDAR RAPIDS - Softball season usually runs from May to July, but for Cedar Rapids Xavier senior Stephanie Wehr the season is year-round.

Once the regular season ends, a training season begins.

'I start to prepare in the summer after season is over,” Wehr said.

Even out of season, Wehr pushes herself to improve her skills as catcher.

'It's the sport that I love and the people that are in it with me are always driving me to do better,” Wehr said.

While juggling many other activities at Xavier, she makes time for softball.

'I usually work out five to seven days a week,” Wehr said.

A typical workout for Wehr consists of many different exercises.

'I either go for a run and do box jumps, or I do the lifting workout that Coach Price designed for me,” Wehr said. 'Also, if it is nice out, I go and hit.”

For Wehr, being a mentor comes natural. Her teammates view her as a role model.

'She is a good leader and pushes us to work hard to the best of our abilities,” sophomore teammate Hannah Williams said.

Softball players are eligible for five seasons throughout their high school career. Since the season is mostly through the summer, eighth-graders are permitted to play on the high school team before they start their freshman year.

This will be Wehr's fifth season with Xavier, and with all of her experience some younger teammates look to her for guidance.

'I see her as a second coach,” Williams said.

After high school, Wehr has a couple of paths to choose. She plans on either attending Loras College to continue her softball career or going to Drake and just focusing on being a full-time student. She plans on pursuing secondary education and hopefully coming back to Xavier to teach.