Year: Senior
Major: Health Sciences
Sport: Softball
FP: How long have you been playing softball?
Kristina: Since I was 9 years old.
FP: Did you fall in love with it right from the start, or did someone push you towards it along the way?
Kristina: When I first started out playing, my parents said that I didn’t like it, but about a year went by (without playing) and I got back into it and started playing on a little league team and as I got older I played ASA ball (and) it became my favorite sport.
FP: What other sports did you play growing up?
Kristina: I danced, played tennis, basketball, gymnastics and cheerleading.
FP: So what made you want to stick with softball into your later years?
Kristina: I just got more involved with the sport, I played on a lot of summer teams. I had to choose between softball and the other sports and I just grew to like softball more than the others. I stuck to it pretty much all through school; I put a lot of hard work and dedication into one sport in the off-season so I could be the best I could be when the season came back around.
FP: What is the fastest you’ve ever hurled a softball?
Kristina: I believe right now I throw high 50’s, low 60’s.
FP: Do you have any rituals you go through before a start?
Kristina: I listen to hip hop and reggae music, it gets me pumped up. Also when my parents are around my mother “gives me the power” and I play awesome!
FP: “Gives you the power?”
Kristina: She holds my hand and she says “I’m giving you the power” and it works.
FP: Do you play any other positions besides pitcher?
Kristina: Yes I played every position in my career growing up so I know them all, (but) for USM right now I broke my finger in Florida so i just DH when I’m not pitching.
FP: Is there anything you want USM to know about the “real” Kristina Grondin?
Kristina: I’m very dedicated to softball and a fun person to be around. I come off as being shy but it’s the shy ones you have to watch out for!