S1E3: USF Softball with Shannon Pivovar & Kait Van Der Zwaag

This week Piv, Head Softball Coach, and Kait, standout 5th year senior, give listeners a rundown of the softball program here at USF. Piv talks about how much she values relationships with her players, and why it is so important to care about them outside of the game. Piv and Kait discuss in depth how the team’s emphasis on mental health has positively impacted their players, both on and off the field. “If our mental health isn’t good” Piv shared, “it’s not different than if our physical health isn’t good.” Kait talks about her time on the USF softball team, why she chose to take her 5th year, and the impact she hopes to leave on the team. Both of them give an overview of what competition is like in the NSIC, the games they have already played, and the games that they are looking forward to in the remainder of their season. Listen to this week's episode to hear more about how Piv and Kait have laid the foundation for USF’s softball program.00:00 - Introduction00:32 - Why Piv and Kait are at USF04:41- Addition of Assistant Coach Madie Brink05:44 - Student athlete experience06:55 - Mental Health13:40- 2022 season recap21:25 Standout players28:09 Big games (future & past)36:53 What makes USF softball special39:19 Wrap-upUSF Athletics: https://usfcougars.com/Podcast Instagram: @cougarsportspodcast