While some students may spend the summer focused on R & R, April’s Allen County Area Athlete of the Month Cayten Cummings is not one of them.
While on break between her duties with the Yates Center Recreation Department Friday morning, Cummings reflected on her recent run with the Yates Center Wildcats softball team.
“I like where we’re going and we’re going to have a lot of girls back,” said Cummings.
As a sophomore, Cummings was a bright spot for a team that finished 6-16. The Wildcats wrapped up the year with a 14-0 loss to Central Heights in the regional tournament. Although ending with a loss, Cummings seemed to be peaking at just the right time.
“I just started practicing harder and things kept going up, so I just kept going,” Cummings said.
Throughout the season, she was a reliable bat for the Wildcats while also serving as pitcher. Last week, Three Rivers League officials named her to the All-Three Rivers League First Team. While elated by her performance this season, Cummings credited her teammates, her coaches and her parents for putting her in a position where she could succeed.
“My mom is my volleyball coach, so she is one of my biggest supporters and my friends have always been there for me,” Cummings said.
Cummings was named Allen County Area Athlete of the Month after receiving the most votes of all three candidates, which included track state qualifiers. She thanked the community for their support and hopes to continue earning their respect as she enters her junior year.
“I was very surprised. Everyone in the community supports me,” Cummings said. “I’m glad and I want their support to continue, so I’m just going to keep doing what I’m doing. Being a role model is one of my big goals. I’m going to keep being a role model and let them know I’m here for them.”
Cummings continues putting time in the weight room and the court over the summer in hopes of making Yates Center an athletic powerhouse before she graduates.
“Monday and Wednesday I do volleyball. Tuesday and Thursday I do basketball with weights in the morning,” Cummings said. “I like to stay busy, so I try to do as much as I can.”
