For Leela Grimm, sports aren’t just something to do after school—they’re part of who she is. As a three-sport athlete, she spends much of her time on the court or the field, pushing herself to get better, working alongside her teammates, and learning lessons that will stay with her long after the final whistle.

She’s an eighth grader at Shepherd Middle School and will head to Ottawa High School next year, a transition she’s more excited about than nervous. A big part of that excitement? The opportunities that await her in basketball, volleyball, and softball.

Of the three, softball is her favorite, and it has been ever since she started playing at six years old. By the time she turned eight, she was competing at the travel level, and today, she plays for Pride, a team that regularly competes across the region. As a catcher, she embraces the challenge of the position—the constant movement, the leadership role, the strategy, and the work ethic it requires. “It’s a lot,” she admits, “but it’s really fun.”

Competing at a high level means long hours, tough practices, and plenty of travel. But to Leela, those road trips aren’t just about the games. “It’s like a mini vacation,” she says. “We get to play, but we also go to different cities, eat at new places, and just have fun as a team.” Whether it’s heading to Iowa or playing two hours from home, those experiences have shaped not just her skills, but her love for the sport.

While softball is her main focus, she puts just as much effort into basketball and volleyball, playing wherever her coaches need her. That adaptability comes from a core trait she values most in herself—being coachable.

“I just want to be on the court or on the field,” she says. “Wherever they put me, I’ll play. I just want to compete.”

That mindset extends to more than just sports. In the classroom, math is her favorite subject, and she excels in it not because it comes naturally, but because she pays attention and builds on what she learns. She sees the same pattern in athletics—some days are great, some are tough, but it all adds up. “It’s like a roller coaster,” she explains. “You’ll have a great game, then a bad one. But you learn the most from the tough days.”

That lesson isn’t just something she figured out on her own—it’s been reinforced by her family, her coaches, and her teammates. Growing up in Ottawa, she’s surrounded by people who believe in hard work and learning from every challenge. Her older brother is in college at Indiana State, while her other brother is still at home, and sports have always been part of their family dynamic. “They were really coachable, too,” she says. “It’s just how we were raised.”

That discipline and focus don’t mean she doesn’t take time to step back and appreciate what she has. She loves Ottawa for the tight-knit community and the way people look out for each other. “There’s just something about this place,” she says. “It’s a real community.” That same feeling extends to her teammates—they push each other, support each other, and celebrate each other’s successes.

She’s hoping this volleyball season ends on a high note, with a run to sectionals or beyond. That’s been the goal in every sport, but so far, she and her teams have always come up just short. “We’ve lost in sectionals for softball and basketball,” she says. “Hopefully this time is different.”

If it is, it’ll be because of the work they’ve put in, the way they’ve built trust as a team, and their refusal to settle for less. And even if they fall short again, Leela knows it’s not the trophies that define her.

It’s the work, the lessons, and the love of the game.