Jade Dillinger, a Grove High School multi-sport athlete and returning All-District softball selection, invests in herself the same way her mother invests in her.
The 5-foot-6 athlete plays catcher and middle infield for the Ridgerunners softball team in addition to playing basketball and in her involvement with national honor society, math club, character counts and interact.
“I’ve been playing since I was 5 and my mother had inspired me to play,” Dillinger said. “My greatest motivation is my mom, to prove to her that we aren’t wasting our time.”
Jennifer Dillinger also played as a high school athlete. As many mothers understand, her own sacrifices have allowed Jade to pursue her passion, something that isn’t lost on her daughter.
“Softball has allowed my family to expand. The road trips made me spend a lot of time with my mom,” Dillinger said. “Putting in the hard work and extra effort will make you stand out in the crowd. Attitude and effort are the only two things you can control.”
Through softball and her family’s commitment, Dillinger has understood the true meaning of sacrifice. Her teammates help motivate and encourage her as she chases success in athletics. This season, Dillinger and her teammates are expecting to have a big year.
“What I love most about softball are the friendships that will last a lifetime and all the life lessons learned,” Dillinger said. “My goals for this year are to fine tune my skills and really build on the foundation I have. I hope to be All-District again and am striving to be an All-Region player this year.”
As for the future, Dillinger knows exactly what she wants to do with that foundation.
“My goals are to play D1. I think that’s just about everyone’s,” Dillinger said. “The connections you build throughout your career are the most important thing this game will ever give me.”
In doing so, she hopes to continue to make her family proud.
