Silver Lake senior Ellington Hogle, (15) who had a three-run homer and a run-scoring double, is congratulated by freshman Hailey Horton during last week's 11-6 win over Oskaloosa in a Class 3A reigonal final at Washburn. In addition to being softball standouts, both Hogle and Horton were also state medalists in girls wrestling. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Softball is Silver Lake senior Ellington Hogle's favorite sport and the one she'll play in college for the Washburn Ichabods.
But Hogle has never been afraid to test her athletic limits, something she proved her junior year when she tackled a new sport.
Already a standout for the Eagles' perennially strong vollleyball and softball teams, Hogle didn't necessarily need another activity to fill her time, but nevertheless decided to try wrestling in 2019-20, the first season it was an official Kansas State High School Activities Association girls sport.
After two successful seasons on the mat, including a fourth-place Division II state medal at 132 pounds this past winter, Hogle is glad she took the plunge.
"I was a (boys) manager my sophomore year and the coaches really pushed for me to try it out and I fell in love with it right away,'' said Hogle, the Eagles' standout shortstop in softball. "After the first season I was very motivated to place and very motivated to do the best I could and it was amazing.''
The fact she spent her winter wrestling certainly didn't hurt her in softball.
In fact, it may have helped, with Hogle hitting a team-high 549 with six home runs for the Eagles, who will take a 20-3 record into Thursday's 7 p.m. Class 3A state tournament contest against Frontenac at Manhattan,
"I think in some way it does (help) because wrestling is probably the hardest thing I've ever done and it brings out so many things,'' Hogle said. "You're by yourself and sometimes that happens in softball, too.
"When you're in the (batter's) box you're by yourself and you have to have your own confidence.''
And Hogle said that staying busy with multiple sports fits her personality perfectly.
"I love playing multiple sports and every sport helps with the next sport,'' Hogle said. "I loved playing all of them and I loved all of them in their own way.''
In fact, Hogle's only regret is that her high school career is almost over.
"It's gone by so fast,'' she said. "I wish I could go back and it could all happen again.''
