Hard Work Paying Off

Monica Whitehead is a 14-year-old student at Red Bird in the 9th Grade. Monica has an older brother and two younger sisters. Her mom (Heather Whitehead) also went to Red Bird grade K-12 and graduated from Red Bird. Monica wears the #43, the same number her grandfather wore in high school and both her uncles. Monica started playing softball in the 7th grade at Red Bird. She wanted to play, but nobody showed any interest in coaching, so her mom was asked to coach, and agreed to. Red Bird has not fielded a softball team in several years. In Monica's first year she was watching YouTube videos learning how to pitch. In March 2023 she began pitching lessons in Knoxville with Cassie Gault at CG Training. She has also taken hitting lessons at Taylor Made Sports Academy in London, Ky. Monica has recently started her pitching lessons at the University of the Cumberlands with Mia Aldridge. She will also be switching her hitting instructions there as well. Monica started playing travel softball last summer with TC Elite in Corbin, Ky. with Coach Jarrod Wison, also doing fall ball with Leslie County’s travel ball team coached by Micheal Campbell. She has not only pitched, but has played second, shortstop, and in the outfield. Monica is a very gifted student athlete, she plays volleyball, basketball, softball, track and field, does cheerleading and cross country for her school. But softball is where her heart is at. Unfortunately Red Bird was not able to field a softball team this year, for lack of numbers. So the school had to call the season. So instead of giving up her dream, Monica started practicing and playing on the baseball team at Red Bird. Monica stated that playing baseball at Red Bird was different, since she was used to being on the softball mound. She knows that the added running distance to the bases and fielding will condition her even more for travel ball season. After she graduates, her goal is to run cross country, or play softball at the next level. If neither works out for her, she plans on joining the AirForce, then attending college, majoring in criminal justice and being a police officer. Work Hard Monica Never Give Up