Kathrine Alderman
news@greenepublishing.com
If you're one to follow sports, you may have seen a familiar face pop up when watching Gator softball games. Elizabeth Hightower, originally from Monticello, graduated from Aucilla Christian Academy (ACA) in 2018, where she played softball for the Lady Warriors. After she graduated, she chose the University of Florida (UF) as her next step. She now plays softball for the UF Gators while continuing her education.
Elizabeth is the daughter of James, another graduate of ACA, and Gretna Hightower, who works in Monticello. She has been playing softball since she was nine years old. Softball is something that allows Hightower to continue to grow and learn important lessons, while also having fun.
Hightower chose to go to UF for a myriad of reasons. Not only is it relatively close to home, she loves the campus and knew that she would get a good education there. "Most importantly, though, the coaches made me feel like I was family," said Hightower. Hightower also appreciates the culture of UF. "Coach Walton holds all his players to a high standard," Hightower mentioned. She wanted to be pushed to uphold that standard and rise to that level of excellence. She knew that if she came to UF, she would excel academically, as well as in sports and learn many life lessons that would help her long after her softball career is over.
When she played at ACA, Hightower pitched, but she also played first and third base. Her pitching stats so far for the 2021 year are 84.1 innings pitched, 40 hits allowed, 13 runs allowed, 13 earned runs allowed, 18 walks, 69 strikeouts and two home runs allowed. Her win/loss record is 12 wins and one loss, with three saves and a 1.07 earned run average.
One of Hightower's favorite memories of playing softball was when she was a freshman at ACA, and they won the State Championship. For a slightly more recent accomplishment, Hightower recently realized a dream of hers, pitching against Florida State University (FSU) and winning. During that game on Friday, March 5, Hightower gave up just one hit, three walks and no earned runs, while striking out three batters in the 5-0 Lady Gator win.
Currently, Hightower is a junior, but she hopes to take some summer classes and graduate a bit early this coming Fall semester. When she first came to UF, Hightower started out majoring in marine biology, which has interested her since she was young. However, when she started taking the classes, she felt like they didn't fit her quite right. So, she talked to her academic advisor. Hightower knew she wanted to stay in the science field but didn't know exactly what to go for. Her advisor encouraged her to take an anthropology class. She fell in love with it and decided to stay with anthropology as her major. She isn't entirely sure where she plans to go with her degree, but she loves her major and loves learning.
Hightower is doing well for herself at UF and continues to excel and learn. Clearly, this won't the last we hear of this impressive ACA graduate.