Ryan Ostry
Bugle Reporter
@RyanOstry_BR18
rostry@buglenewspapers.com
Since the 2016 season, Joliet West had a star on and off the softball field.
Senior catcher Morgan Gersch led the way for the Tigers throughout her entire career, starting on varsity for three years.
“[Gersch] is a model student-athlete for Joliet West,” said coach Heather Suca.“She has maintained excellent grades throughout her career, and her teachers cannot say enough about her work ethic in the classroom.”
Gersch started playing the sport of softball at a young age when her cousin and her would play at family parties.
“At every family party I would always throw a ball around with her,” Gersch said. “We would go to her games and watched her play and when my parents began to notice how into I was, they signed me up for JSA. Ever since, my love of the game grew.”
Off the field, Gersch was enrolled in honors courses along with AP classes throughout her entire four year high school career.
The star student has also received multiple academic awards including: All athletic academic softball, Summa Cum Laude, Presidents Award for Educational Excellence and the Tom Calhoun Memorial Award.
“I think I became successful because I put in the work. I would always work hard in practice, I would always come in for some extra cuts, and I’ve always been willing to put in the time,” Gersch said. “I play travel ball for the Dirt Devils and during the off season they provide a great winter program at GenuWIN. They really prepare for playing softball at the next level.”
On the field, Suca correlates Gersch’s success to the job she has done with the young Tiger pitching staff in practice, as well as in games.
“She has truly developed our pitcher’s mindset,” Suca said. “Her biggest asset this year has been that leadership.”
Not only was Gersch the quintessential backstop for the successful Tigers in 2019 with a .976 fielding percentage, but she also held up her bargain with the bat as well.
Gersch has hit .402 with 23 RBI and five home runs.
Understanding that Gersch isn’t the type of leader who will get in the face of a teammate and call her out, Suca said that her leadership style was more of someone who leads by example and is another coach on the field.
“While [Gersch] is a soft-spoken kid, she leads by example by always giving her 100 percent best effort,” Suca said. “Our younger players really look up to her and always follow her lead.
“This year however, she has really come into her own by taking on a more vocal role on the field.”
Even though the Tigers just missed out on their end goal winning a state championship, Suca said her positive presence on the team and the school will sorely be missed.
“She is a player that has shown up every day for the last three years,” Suca said. “As a coach, you never have to wonder what you are going to get from her.
“She comes prepared each day to get better and is always there to help her teammates. She comes from a great family that has had many students and athletes come through Joliet West, and Morgan will truly be missed.”
Following this season, Gersch will attend St. Charles, MO where she will play softball at Lindenwood University.
“I’m super excited to play at the collegiate level. I can’t wait for the opportunity to face some really good players,” Gersch said. “I’m looking forward to the challenge and I think Lindenwood University will be a great opportunity to do so.”