TAMPA, Fla. – Growing up, Allana Consolazio was a soccer player. It wasn’t until she was 12 years old that the University of South Florida Bulls softball outfielder changed her sport.

Despite learning a new game at a later age, it didn’t take her very long to begin filling up her trophy case.

During her time at Fort Myers (Fla.) High School, Consolazio went to three straight state championships, winning in her freshman season in 2017.

“It was very exciting,” the Fort Myers native said, in the stands at the Bulls’ facility. “We had a very strong team. I was one of the few girls on the squad that wasn’t committed yet, and being able to learn from the older girls was exciting.”

Even with such an impressive high school resume, Consolazio plans on bringing her winning experiences to USF by putting her teammates first.

“Being able to support my teammates is probably the best thing I know how to do,” the left-handed hitter said. “On my best days – and worst days – the team is going to be there for you, so it’s important to also be there for them.”

Bulls’ head coach Ken Eriksen is impressed with how much of a team-first mentality the sophomore possesses.

“In women’s athletics, they have a tendency to play more for the team in each at-bat and each pitch, whereas the guys are trying to get contracts,” Eriksen said in the dugout before practice. “Each pitch is about them. Each at-bat is about them. Here, each bat and each play is about the team, and Allana brings that mentality into what we have and that fits in with what we do.”

Consolazio, who hopes to be an anesthesiologist, is more than a skilled softball player. Two years ago, she was named to the American Athletic Conference All-Academic Team.

“I was very proud of myself and my teammates that also made it,” she said. “It reminded me that the hard work actually pays off.”