RANKINGS
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ABOUT
Olivia Chrostopoul, a 2022 outfielder/second baseman who attends West Boca (Boca Raton, Florida) High, may have the coolest nickname around.
The has picked up the tag “Felony” because she has a propensity to steal big time, but in reality—with a rigorous weekly training schedule that includes three weight training sessions, indoor fielding and batting sessions, speed and agility training, a pair of two-hour team practices and actual games and tournaments—this Sunshine State speedster is too busy to get in any type of real trouble.
Here she is working out during one of her six-days-a-week sessions:
New PB 210 lb HexBar 🎉
Gettin my speed on. Wednesday 1.5 hour Workout. HexBar Deadlifts
Deep Squats
Overhead Press
Deep Pull Ups
Bench Press
4” Split Sqt Lunge pic.twitter.com/HS4WWvAqRm— Olivia Christopoul 22 – 2.5 H-1st "Felony CF/2B/UT (@OChristopoul) October 9, 2020
Clocked at a 2.69 home-to-first time, Olivia rotates among three fastpitch teams she competes for—two club and one national team—and brings to all of them her great quickness and speed.
She has been selected to represent her country of origin by playing on the Greek Junior International 16U Team coached by Toni Foti and also plays for the So Cal Athletics – Marinakis/Jaquish Gold National Team as well as with the Gold Coast Hurricanes 18U program.
This summer she batted .556 with a .617 on-base percentage and was 12-of-13 in steals and last weekend played in the Top Gun tournament, helping her team finish 3rd although she says it didn’t come easily.
“Last weekend was, by far the coldest I’ve ever been in my life!” she laughs. “I played with the 16U team Friday and Saturday and, on Sunday, we started at 7 am finishing at 9:30 pm with the 18U team. My feet were numb and I couldn’t feel my nose! The temperature was 48-42 degrees but with the wind chill it felt like 32. It hurt to walk but, man, we had fun!”
Breaking news: we just found one thing the junior can’t outrun… the cold!
Here’s more on this fast-rising talent who wants to study Psychology and someday be a Criminal Psychologist as well as a college softball coach…
*****
Talk about playing for the Greek Jr. National Team… how did you get tied in with them? What experiences have you had with the team?
Coach Toni Foti saw my videos and reached out to my Mom and then sent my information to Coach Kostas Marinakis. Coach Marinakis asked me to fly out to California for the weekend where I was invited to join the Jr Greek National team. Due to COVID the Jr Greek National team has been limited in their ability to play. The next event will be held in Colorado in July 2021.
The Greek Woman’s Softball National Team meets via Zoom calls to discuss national softball events and the summer schedule. Speaking with players in other countries and sharing experiences is amazing. The idea of playing in other countries is thrilling! This summer they are playing in Prague.
We recently had the Milonopoulus twin sisters, Zoe & Dimintra, in our 2024 Extra Elite 100 rankings and they play on the Greek National team and with the So Cal A’s – Marinakis program too. They’re younger than you by two years, but have you met them?
They are on the Jr Greek National team, but due to COVID and cancelled programs, the team was allowed to keep on the girls that would have “aged out” so the Jr. team has girls from 15-18. The current roster is broad (in age)
I currently play on the 16U and 18U So Cal Athletics Gold National Marinakis/Jaquish Teams. I played with the twins for the first this weekend, on the 16U team. They are great girls from a great family! I believe they will be playing on the 15U and/or 16U teams.
You play multiple sports, talk about how you got into sports, which ones you’ve played (like football) and how you got into softball….
When I was younger, like three-years-old, I followed my older sister to her practices. She was in karate and soccer and I couldn’t wait to follow her footsteps and be in the action! My mom convinced the karate school to take me as a student as soon as I turned age 4 (they had a strict policy of 5 and up), but I was so excited and knew I had to prove that I could do it, because most instructors didn’t want a four-year-old in the class.
I watched all the older kids for two years, so I knew what was expected. I started in a class of “new” kids, so everyone was surprised by “the little one” that knew how to stand in proper position, follow the katas and was the loudest in the class. I followed every direction. My mom believes that’s where I began my “prove them wrong” mentality.
Soon after, I started soccer and basketball and was usually the youngest on the team. I always had to prove myself, so I went above and beyond. By the time I was 10 I was on multiple teams and a very aggressive” athlete. I loved the competition; I was driven from within to produce for my team and prove I could do it!
My sister joined a softball league when I was 10. During her first practice the league was offering a pitching clinic and I jumped in. After the class the coached ask my mom, “How long has she been pitching?” My Mom replied, “Including today? (She started) TODAY!” The coach came over to me and said, “Don’t ever stop playing this sport!”
That night I receive a call from a travel coach who said, “I know this might be weird, but asked around for your number” and there began my softball career!
I played softball, soccer and basketball every season through middle school. In middle school, we took the softball championship for the first time in 11 years. It was amazing! In soccer I was the goalie for two undefeated seasons, and we won the district championships in penalty kicks… blocking the final shot! You don’t get many moments in life like that!
This is about the time that I had to choose between travel sports. I knew softball was my heart! I love everything about it! especially the mental aspect of the game. Something about being on the softball field with my teammate… everything is just better!
When freshman year started, the football coach recruited athletes (from other sports) to play flag football. I played on the Freshman team, we practiced and learned all about the game. We emorized plays and learned new techniques; it was so much fun. The battle of the teams was led by the Freshman team. Beating the Sophomore, Junior and Senior teams, it was the first time in the school history.
Talk about how you do club softball… do you split time between the Gold Coast Hurricanes and So Cal A’s? Is it A’s in summer, then Hurricanes rest of the fall and spring?
I play for the So Cal Athletics Gold National Marinakis/Jaquish and Gould Coast Hurricanes Hoyt/Thompson simultaneously. My coaches (and family) are very supportive of my softball goals and my Greek National dreams, so I am very fortunate.
Surprisingly the travel schedule doesn’t conflict much, only twice this season. I am on the road three or four weekends a month. Now that school is virtual, I haven’t missed a class, sometimes taking class on the plane. It’s been a blessing!
Your workout regime is impressive… can you detail all you do and how you’ve seen progress with what you do?
Thank you, I train four to five days a week at the gym TBT training in Boca Raton Florida and two days in the field. I train in splits for energy, strength, speed and agility, flexibility and balance. My routines vary based on the set I’m doing. Some of my favorite exercises are: squats, deadlifts, RdL’s, dumbbell bench press, incline bench presses, various lunges with weights, cable rows, wall balls and box jumps (I love box jumps!).
What are your strengths in softball, speed, obviously… what else do you think you do well?
My speed has definitely help me across all sports, but I think my determination has helped me through the obstacles that can lead athletes to go in other directions. I have also been told that my attitude towards the game and my teammate has changed the face of many games.
I am big on on-field communication and positive reinforcement and am constantly encouraging my teammates with positive feedback, no matter what position we find ourselves in! I am very proud of that.
Talk about how the recruiting process and how it’s going, are you narrowing down the list of schools, close to a decision or still wide open?
I am very excited about the recruiting process. I, like most other student-athletes, was initially discouraged with the COVID recruiting restrictions, but Coach Kostas Marinakis and Coach Bill Jaquish dedicate a lot of their time to help us navigate the recruiting process. They help us focus on what we are able to do instead of the restrictions that have been placed!
I was humbled by the response, September 1st was a day I will never forget! I am actively speaking to eight schools. Getting to know the coaches through phone calls, virtual visits and text messages, I am a little closer to a decision but not quite there yet!
Being that your heritage is Greek, do you want to try to play for the Greek National Team some day? Have you ever been to Greece?
I have not been to Greece. My grandparents are from Greece and My dad lived there for a while and I plan to visit as soon as travel is safe and available.
I attend Zoom calls with the Greek National Women’s team and aspire to play with the them, hopefully very soon… there may be an opportunity next summer.
What do you love most about softball?
I really love all aspects of playing the game. The big wins are fun and the awards are great, but my best memories are about my teammates. I remember the great plays, but what makes me smile the most is the feeling when we are playing in sync, winning as a whole, celebrating that with my teammates! The feeling of what we accomplished together is the best!
I love the competition, the challenge, the strategy behind each play. I love the feeling I get when I hear our cleats walking up to the dugout! The bond with your teammates and coaches. The support each of you can give and feel from each other.
— Brentt Eads, Extra Inning Softball