A Triple Threat

Senior softball player Kelsie Weeks has been a valued athlete for the past four years at West Ashley High School. Weeks plays softball, tennis, and throws for the track team. Her coaches and teammates appreciate her talents and her efforts. “She is very content playing her role on the team and does it very well,” says WAHS varsity softball head coach Robert Marion.
Weeks enjoys all three sports she plays, each for a different reason. “I don’t really have a favorite [sport]. I enjoy doing them all,” says Weeks, who started playing softball when one of her friends introduced her to the sport several years ago. In addition to playing three sports, Weeks also takes P.E. classes and weight trains. According to her, weightlifting has really helped build her back and shoulder muscles, resulting in more powerful throws and hits on the softball field.
Being a right fielder, Weeks recognizes the importance of playing smart. She says that making the right choice about how to play a ball in a game as an outfielder can really make a big difference. When asked what her biggest challenge defensively was, Weeks responded, “to dive or not to dive.” If she dives and misses the ball, it could result in a number of runs scored by the opposing team. “If you dive and catch it it’s great, but it really sucks if you miss,” says Weeks.
Offensively Weeks says being too choosy on the pitch is her biggest weakness, but she hasn’t had too much to worry about with her batting lately. In her most recent game, Weeks was especially proud of her offensive performance. “I did pretty well! I hit (a difficult line drive hit) and got a bunt down after two strikes,” she says.
She said she was motivated when Marion told her he believed in her right before she went up to bat.  It gave her all the confidence she needed to do well and confirm that she made the right choice to continue to play softball. “I almost did not play softball last year, but I stuck with it to support my team and I ended up falling back in love with the sport,” says Weeks.
All year long Weeks stays busy with school, work, sports, and other extracurricular activities. “She is a very hard worker who always gives her best effort,” says Marion. She’s an active member of National Honor Society and the Interact Club, and she has served on the Prom Committee. With all the time she spends being a student athlete, Weeks was forced to give up her job as a hostess because it conflicted with her tennis and softball schedules. This just shows her dedication to school and athletics. In her very limited free time, Weeks enjoys gardening, painting, and relaxing by herself at the beach.
After high school, Weeks plans to go to the College of Charleston for two years and then transfer to the University of Georgia to finish her degree. She says she chose these two colleges because they both have great animal science programs. Weeks loves animals, and hopes to become a veterinarian.