“I can’t really say enough about her. She’s a great senior leader and keeps everyone on the team involved.”

Those words from Howe softball coach Mike Womack pretty well sum up the feelings that folks have about senior Kalan Nye. “She and her sister Karsyn are exactly what you want as a coach. They’re the most unselfish kids I’ve ever coached,” said Womack.

A four-year starter in softball where she pitches and plays first and third base, Kalan is also a member of the Lady Lions basketball team where she plays forward and picking a favorite sport is difficult for her. “I like softball where I mostly pitch because I like to be in control and have the game in my hands and I have the most confidence when I’m pitching. But I probably like basketball a little more because of our winning tradition (state champs in 2019 and 2021).”

As is usually the case, there is a little competitiveness between Kalan and her sister but it’s mostly positive in athletics. “She’s a good big sister to Karsyn,” said Womack. “She doesn’t gripe at her and tries to help her.”

“I learned a long time ago I’m not allowed to get on to her,” laughed Kalan. “We are competitive, but we always encourage each other on the field.”

Kalan says she found a new role model this past spring during the women’s college world series. “I started watching pitcher Odicci Alexander of James Madison University. I liked her determination to win. It seems she would do anything to win. My dad called her a ‘gamer’. By the end of the series, I was rooting for James Madison to win,” said Kalan who is in the National Honor Society and the Business Professionals of America at school.

Alexander would seem to be a pretty good role model as she went on to be named the NCAA Division I Softball Woman of the Year. Kalan also had some good role models to follow when it comes to being a senior leader. “When I was a freshman, we had some seniors who really led by example and that’s the kind of leader I try to be.”

Kalan says her drop curve is her best pitch and her coach says that has helped her improve over the past year. “Kalan’s consistency in the circle has really improved this past year. She’s throwing more strikes and controlling her pitch location better,” said Womack. “She’s so positive and having more fun playing this year. She really wants to make the most of her senior season.”