2020 Senior Spotlight: Kat Coolidge

By Andy Brown
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Updated: May 19, 2020

Andy Brown / Louisburg Sports Zone

Louisburg Sports Zone will be running senior spotlights through April and May everyday (Monday through Friday) in an effort to honor seniors who had their seasons taken away due to the spread of COVID-19.

A year ago, Kat Coolidge had a front row seat to witness Louisburg softball history.

Coolidge, who played mostly on junior varsity last season, was called up to be on the varsity roster for the postseason. She watched as the Lady Cats played the role of Cinderella as they knocked off a pair of two higher seeds on their way to a regional championship and a state tournament appearance.

“My favorite moment in playing LHS Softball was definitely winning the last regional game and advancing onto state last year,” Coolidge said. “It was the most exciting game I have ever experienced.”

It was that moment that left Coolidge wanting more as she entered her senior campaign with the Lady Cats. She was looking to make her own mark on the program and was looking forward to playing for new head coach, Nick Chapman.

Coolidge was one of seven Lady Cat seniors on the roster for the upcoming season and they were all aiming for another trip to the state tournament.

“I was super excited for this season to start and to play for Chapman since it was my final year playing, and because we had ended our previous season at state,” Coolidge said. “I believe we all worked especially hard the first two weeks we did get to practice, because we all shared a common goal in that we wanted to go back to state.”

Unfortunately, the unthinkable happened shortly after Spring Break when the spring season was cancelled due to the spread of COVID-19. It meant a lot of players, like Coolidge, wouldn’t get that one last opportunity at representing their school.

“It has definitely been super hard,” Coolidge said. “I had been looking forward to this coming season for my entire senior year, and I’m sad we never got to play a game.”

The decision to cancel the season has also been hard on Chapman as he was looking forward to working with his senior class and to get his first year of coaching under his belt. He knew Coolidge was going to play a big role on the team this year.

“Kat was on my JV team last year and she had natural power at the plate,” Chapman said. “When she swung and made contact, it was going for a ride. She was quiet, but had a great work ethic and passion for the game. I think this would have been a great year for Kat.”

Not only will Coolidge not get the opportunity to play for Louisburg one last time, but she will also say goodbye to a sport she started playing in elementary school.

“I first started playing in third grade, but I didn’t really get into the sport until sixth grade when a couple of friends recruited me to their club team,” Coolidge said. “I would say softball has been a big part of my life in that it is the sport I have stuck with the longest.”

Other than softball, Louisburg Sports Zone also had a chance to catch up with Kat on how she has been coping with an early end to her senior year and some of her other interests. Here are her responses from the rest of our Q&A.

LSZ: What have you been missing the most during this time away from everyone?

KC: I miss seeing all my teammates at practice, and I miss playing in games.

LSZ: What is your most memorable moment as an athlete or in school, and why?

KC: I would again say that going to State last year was my most memorable moment as an athlete, because it was so exciting.

LSZ: What is your favorite activity/hobby outside of sports and why?

KC: I loved being in the musicals at LHS because they were a lot of fun and I made a lot of friends while doing so.

LSZ: What are your plans for after graduation?

KC: I plan on attending Loyola University New Orleans and majoring in Biology.

LSZ: What accomplishments that don’t involve athletics are you most proud of and why?

KC: One of my biggest accomplishments was being accepted into the Bill of Rights Institution’s Constitutional Academy in Washington D.C. with a full scholarship last summer. It was one of the coolest experiences because I got to meet other students from all over America and tour the city.