Former Belhaven softball athlete able to tackle life with resilience
JACKSON, Miss. (BVM) 鈥� Growing up as a dual-sport athlete in track and field and soccer, Abby Mondy has loved to compete. However, as Mondy鈥檚 talent grew, she wanted more of a challenge than what track or soccer could provide.聽
This led Mondy to pick up the game of softball in her freshman year of high school. She instantly fell in love with softball and the team-oriented aspect of it. Her skill on the softball field presented her with the opportunity to play college softball at Louisiana State University 鈥� Eunice.聽
At LSU-Eunice, Mondy was able to earn starting positions at both shortstop and second base. Adding depth to the program, Mondy was a part of the highly ranked championship teams in 2016 and 2017.
However, in her second year at LSU-Eunice she had a severe allergic reaction that landed her in the intensive care unit. As she recovered from her allergic reaction, she thought to herself 鈥渢his must be it.鈥�
Her thoughts led her to take a gap year from college and softball completely. During her gap year, Mondy worked at her uncle鈥檚 construction site and a local restaurant.
Her love for the game of softball returned which led her to call Belhaven University鈥檚 head softball coach, Kevin Griffin. Griffin welcomed Mondy to join the Belhaven Blazers softball program. In her first year as a Blazer, her love for the game was rekindled. Mondy found the entire Blazer program to be amazing.聽
While starting at the shortstop position, Mondy had her sights on the stolen base record. However, in the third game of the spring season, Mondy broke her leg. Mondy needed surgery and the first question she asked the surgeon was, 鈥淲hen will I be able to play again?鈥�
Mondy was struck with the news of her recovery time mapping out to be an entire year.聽
Any injury can affect an athlete鈥檚 psyche. It happened to Mondy as she did not cope well with her injury. It wasn鈥檛 easy, but she was able to completely recover from her leg injury in a quick five months.聽
Through her journey, Mondy was welcomed with a great support system. Her teammates were very supportive in helping her with schoolwork and household chores. In addition to that, Mondy鈥檚 roommates hosted a bonfire night with food to cheer her up. Her uncle Kev pushed her to continue to grind this journey out. Mondy always carries with her that Uncle Kev did everything he could to make sure she was successful.聽
The softball athletic trainer, Brenna, encouraged her by letting her know that the team needed her back on the field and that she would get her back to the field. For further encouragement, Belhaven鈥檚 track and field coach, LaRon Bennett shared his injury story with Mondy. Bennett suffered a knee injury and relied on his faith to get him through. Bennett also left Mondy with the nugget of Romans 8:28 which reads, 鈥淎nd we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.鈥�
Having that big support system motivated Mondy to continue this journey to make a return to the softball field. Through her journey, Mondy observed that the hardest part was not knowing if the rehabilitation was working and not being able to move around. Through it all she insists that people should not 鈥減ush anyone away, your friends are there to help.鈥�
鈥淵our body is capable of more than what your mind is telling you,鈥� Mondy stated.聽
Recovered and ready for another season, Mondy鈥檚 world was torn apart once more by COVID-19. Even granted another year of eligibility, Mondy decided to hang her cleats up.
Not leaving the sports world entirely, Mondy is now serving as a graduate assistant for Belhaven鈥檚 track and field team. Mondy鈥檚 current logistics role on the team allows her to finish her master鈥檚 degree, make connections, and learn more about college athletics. Mondy finds that the most important detail in her current position is communication.
With her playing days behind her at the current moment, Mondy aspires to continue to work in college athletics and become an athletic director at a division one program.聽
Her journey in life has fueled her with the eagerness to grow and willingness to be the best person she can be. Ultimately, Mondy wants to pour into others and to be what others have been to her.聽
