Softball Paves the Way for CHS Student

By Misty Cryer

A lifetime of playing ball led to a full-ride softball scholarship for Carlsbad High School senior Faith Rivera, who recently signed a letter of intent to play for the Galveston College Whitecaps. This is just the first step in her well-thought-out plan to pursue a career in nursing.

Faith is the daughter of Josh and Amanda Rivera. With a history of baseball and softball on both sides of the family, Faith said she has been playing softball since she was four years old.

Dina Navarrette, Faith’s great-aunt, was in the Hall of Fame for softball and had coaching experience, said Amanda. “She had started helping Faith when we put her in T-ball at four,” she said, adding that she helped her to learn the fundamentals of softball and coached her with Faith’s dad.

Last year, Faith played softball with the Carlsbad Cavegirls. Mostly, she has been on traveling teams under the coaching of Jarred Lewis from Hobbs. “I’ve been with him since I was eight years old, and that’s who I accredit all of my softball to,” she said.

“I play catcher and first base,” said Faith. Amanda added that she had the highest batting average last year when playing with the Cavegirls.

When asked what she likes best about softball, Faith said, “I enjoy the competition.” With a laugh, she added, “I like playing against people, and I like winning.”

Faith said she is grateful for the friendships she has made along the way, which is her most enjoyable part of her softball career so far. “I’ve met people from so many different cities from the different teams I’ve played on,” she said.

After checking out several colleges, Faith chose Galveston because of the coaches. “I really got along with the coaches. They made me feel very comfortable being so far away from home,” she said, adding that she has two friends who are currently attending the college.

Faith’s favorite class in school is Social Studies. “I really like history,” she said.

Her favorite teacher in the Carlsbad school is Coach Norman. “He was my history teacher last year; he’s a football coach, too. He definitely helped me a lot last year,” said Faith.

“I joined track last year because of him, and I did discus for him. He was my favorite because we meshed well with the coaching styles and the teaching styles. I learned a lot from him in the classroom and in throwing the discus,” she said.

Aside from her love of history, Faith said her ambition is to go into nursing. The two-year softball scholarship is a full ride. “They pay for everything. They will pay for my tuition, my dorm, my meal plan, my books… After I graduate with my Associate’s, I’ll transfer to a university, and play somewhere else,” she said.

Not sure which university she would want to go to, Faith said she will be checking out Texas universities. “I definitely want to stay in Texas,” she said.

Due to a recent NCAA ruling allowing students to play four years after attending a JUCO (junior college), Faith said, “I want to play the full six years, and then I want to get my RN degree and become a nurse.”

She said, “I would love to do pediatric nursing, that is what I mainly want to do. I’ve always liked kids, and I want to help people in my job. I feel like I could get the best of two worlds doing that.”

Currently, Faith doesn’t see herself coaching softball after college. “I think once I’m done playing, I will have had a long and beautiful career with softball. I think that is enough for me, and I will be ready to close the chapter after six more years,” she said.