Monk will move to Tampa in June to begin summer classes and is expected to play outfield for USF.
“South Florida was the first camp I went to,when I was 12 years old, and I loved the coaching staff,” Monk said. “I got along with them very well, learned a lot from them, and I noticed I had a lot to work on at that point, so I kept in touch, sending emails and videos and I could just see myself playing for that coaching. The campus is beautiful too.”
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Monk’s grandmother lives in Tampa, so she had signed up to attend the camp during a Christmas vacation in Florida to visit her. The desire to move to a warm-weather climate made USF appealing even then, and a week after attending the camp, Monk went to one of the USF softball games and decided then that’s where she wanted to go someday.
Watching Bulls coach Ken Eriksen interact with the players pretty much sold her on the idea. Eriksen is the head coach of Team USA, a position he began in 2011 after previously serving as an assistant, and two of his current USF staff members also help coach the national team.
“I knew I would be going somewhere I’m learning the right stuff, and hopefully I can be a part of Team USA someday,” Monk said.
Monk was the Miami Valley Conference Scarlet Division Player of the Year last spring for a second straight year after helping CCS to a 15-5 finish and Division IV sectional championship.
She posted a .574 batting average and led the conference with 13 home runs, seven doubles and 39 RBIs. Her sophomore season in 2017 was even better in some regards, as she batted .700 with 10 home runs and 49 RBIs.
“They (South Florida) had been looking at her for a while,” CCS coach Steve Gillens said. “She pitches a little bit but her main strength is in the outfield, and she hits the ball well. She’s been a four-year starter for us since middle school, so she’s just come up through the ranks and been a great player for us. South Florida found a little gem here and they picked her up.”
Cincinnati Christian has had other softball players go on to play in college, just never Division I coming out of high school.
Monk said she wasn’t worried about not getting an opportunity while being at such a small school because of all the traveling she has done with her club team. USF originally wasn’t interested in her, Monk said, but she remained persistent and the staff eventually came along.
“That pushed me harder because it gave me a challenge, and they realized how hard I as working and eventually gave me a scholarship,” Monk said.
Gillens said “it’s a big deal” for the school to have a player like Monk going on to play Division I softball.
USF was the only school Monk wanted to go to, so signing was a big moment for her.
“I was so relieved to finally get that long process over with,” she said. “It made me realize now I can just play and focus on getting better and prepare myself for USF. There’s not as much pressure on me now, so I’m very happy.”
Monk now looks forward to her senior season and a chance to be a three-time player of the year, but more importantly, continue to help CCS.
The Cougars just missed what would have been the program’s first district title last spring when they lost 2-1 to Bradford in eight innings, and they graduated just two seniors. Cincinnati Christian lost at that same level in 2005 (to Bradford), 2006 (to West Liberty-Salem) and 2007 (to Covington). Monk would love to be a part of more history for CCS.
“Coach Eriksen tells me all the time, ‘Leave the softball program a better program,’ ” Monk said. “Being the only D-I player, that’s something we should be proud of — and I am — but I’ve got a lot more work to do still.”
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