Every recruiting story is unique and sometimes it’s simply coming big when the moment arrives.
That was the case for Brooklyn Stewart, a 2022 catcher/middle infielder for the Tennessee Mojo 03 team coached by Aaron Sewell.
For her junior campaign at Milford (Ohio) High in the Spring of 2021, Brooklyn’s stat line included a .560 batting average in 27 games with 28 RBIs, 39 runs scored, 13 doubles and a strong defensive showing that included her throwing out six of nine would-be base stealers and three pickoffs.
She was selected as a 1st Team All-Conference honoree and was voted to the All-American Game in Colorado while twice earning Extra Inning Softball National Player of the Week honorable mention as a junior.
This summer, the Tennessee Tech softball coaching staff began showing serious interest in bringing her into the Ohio Valley Conference school.
“The first time all three Tennessee Tech coaches came to watch me play,” she recalls, “I hit an opposite field home run versus an Athletics Mercado team at ProSwings. After a couple of great camps at Tenn Tech and getting to know the coaches, I knew that was where I wanted to be.”
Earlier this month, the athlete made it official and committed to the Golden Eagles… below is her first-person account of how her recruiting journey culminated in her verbal…
I am so excited and blessed to announce that I will be continuing my academic and athletic career at Tennessee Tech University! Thank you to my family, coaches and teammates for making this possible! I’m excited to be a Golden Eagle! #WingsUp 💜💛 @CoachMarioH @TTU_Softball pic.twitter.com/yKwuCmvB49
— Brooklyn Stewart (@brooklynstew10) August 19, 2021
*****
The recruiting process, where do I begin?
From all the emails, camps, phone calls, etc., it feels like a full-time job!
Luckily for me, the Tennessee Tech coaches made it pretty enjoyable—from the very beginning of them finding me and watching me play, they have made me feel so wanted and appreciated.
I was in Atlanta, Georgia in the Legacy Tournament (July 7th-11th), playing a late-night game due to rain delays and Coach Michelle DePolo still came out to watch me play… I was so surprised and so happy.
She texted Brooks Cherry, the head of the Tennessee Mojo organization, and said very good things about me and I was already so excited and hoping I would hear from her again.
Luckily, my next tournament was in Cookeville, Tennessee at the ProSwings event (July 15th-18th), which was 10 minutes away from Tennessee Tech. My first game of the tournament, I looked behind the backstop and there was (Assistant) Coach Mario Hernandez!
I played well that weekend, especially when they walked up to my Saturday morning game and I hit an opposite field home run.
Fast forward to Sunday; unfortunately, my team loses and was out of the tournament. However, on a more positive note, that meant I got to go to the short camp they held that Sunday evening and it was the best camp I had ever had.
I hit multiple home runs during the front toss, I threw a girl out, made good blocks, etc.
Just from hitting a home run in front of them and me having a great camp, I knew that this school was already different from any other school. After that camp, Coach Mario and I kept in touch, and we had a phone call and he invited me to the August 14th and 15th camp.
At this two-day camp we did instructional work, scrimmages, defense specific work and hitting specific work. I also did well in this camp and afterwards I was able to really get a feel for the campus and it felt so much like home.
I could really see myself there. The campus is beautiful, and it felt like home. The coaches seemed as excited about me as I was about playing for them!
I was hoping I was going to do well in this camp and I did because on my way home, two hours after the camp, here I am—me, my dad, mom, and brother—pulled over on the side of the road, on a Zoom call getting an offer from Coach DePolo and Coach Mario.
Once they gave me the offer, it was an easy decision for me. We had a great conversation and when it ended, I started crying tears of joy and gave my dad and mom the biggest hug ever.
Man, I wish I could’ve accepted the offer right then and there but obviously, we had some financial stuff to talk about and all that good stuff.
After a bunch of talking and researching, I made my decision and it felt easy. It was the perfect college for me. The campus is so beautiful, the coaches are amazing, the softball girls are great, and they have my major (Education).
I called Coach DePolo on Tuesday, August 17th, and told her with the biggest smile on my face that I would love to be a Golden Eagle!
I’m excited to see what Tennessee Tech brings me and I couldn’t be more blessed to be going to such an amazing university. I can’t wait to be a Golden Eagle next fall! #WingsUp
