Kendra VanderLugt leads the team with 43 hits during her senior season.
Rocket Spotlight on Kendra VanderLugt
4/25/2025 9:04:00 AM | Softball
On switching positions her junior season, how softball helps with student teaching and team traditions for the freshman class
Kendra VanderLugt is a senior on the softball team and has played in 123 career games throughout her four-year career as a Rocket. VanderLugt will graduate in May with a bachelor's degree in early childhood education.
On deciding to play softball
Softball was the one sport that I have played since I was really young. I started with t-ball at six years old and just kept going. I played travel ball in middle school and my dad was my coach, so that played a huge role in me continuing to play. When I got to high school and played on different travel teams, he wasn't necessarily my coach, but the sport held a special place in my heart. Softball is the one sport I have always been the most passionate about. It also helped me have a great connection with my dad, who played a massive role in my softball career to help me get to where I am today.
On choosing to attend Toledo
There were a few factors when I was going throughout my recruiting process. I was looking at many things, especially school size, variety of majors, distance from home and the quality of the softball program. I really like the size of MAC schools and Toledo was a perfect distance from home. At the time, I was really looking for something about two hours from my hometown that would help give me a new start. Toledo checked all of the boxes I was looking for in both a university and a softball program. Choosing to be a Rocket was a great fit for me. A lot has changed throughout my career, but I wouldn't go back and change anything. If I didn't face any of the challenges I did, I would never have grown as a player or as a person in the way that I have. My time here has had such a positive impact on me, despite what I've gone through these last four years.
On experiencing a coaching change after her freshman season
Honestly when the new staff came in (Head Coach Jessica Bracamonte), it was a fresh start. From the minute that they took over, you knew that they were here to turn our culture around, turn our chemistry around, turn absolutely everything around and that's what they've done. Any coaching change is hard. There's a lot of unknown, whether its your position or playing time or anything else. Like I said before, I wouldn't change the trajectory of my career because where I am now is due to all of those changes. Going through and navigating the unknown is what challenges you and teaches you how to deal with these situations in your postgrad life.
On switching from third base to outfield
I was doing what the team needed at the time and I just fell in love with the outfield. I had never played outfield before college. I was a pitcher and an infielder up from travel ball until my junior year of college. I got moved out there one practice and I never left. I really love it out there. Being in right field last year was a lot of fun, but I really love center field this season. The seniors that were out there my junior year taught me so much and now I'm able to take on a different role in center field, so it's been great.
On choosing to study early childhood education
I always had it in the back of my mind that I would enjoy teaching and would like to be a teacher, but I wanted to explore other areas first. I was undecided in the College of Health and Human Sciences and after my first semester, I said "Why not? I've thought about this before, it's always interested me and I can see myself doing this."
On student teaching kindergarteners
Right now, I am student-teaching full-time so I teach everyday and take over the whole classroom. I wouldn't change it. I love being a part of their education and a part of their lives, seeing them grow academically and socially. Being a role in their development is something that's really important to me. I love helping the students create experiences and teaching them to be great human beings as they get older.  I could see myself teaching kindergarten after I graduate. I feel most comfortable teaching in the lower grades due to my student-teaching experiences. I love the students, they are so full of energy. They make me smile and challenge me every day in ways that adults don't do. They are really cool.
On the experiences gained through student teaching
I don't think that there are a lot of majors where you have this full-encompassing experience of being totally immersed in exactly what you're going to do postgrad. I will have done everything in the classroom by the time I graduate, and I think that experience is so valuable. Toledo has us doing a lot of in-class experience with Methods student teaching and many other opportunities where I can get involved in the classroom. That's what I enjoy most, knowing that I am as close to it gets to experiencing what it's going to be like when I graduate and have my own classroom.
On learning from softball and applying that to student-teaching
Adaptability and adversity. I am teaching students who come from all these different backgrounds and I have to find a way to adapt the classroom that's going to meet them in the way that they need. Making sure I am being culturally responsive and academically responsive to what the students need. I am always practicing consistent patience and teamwork because I collaborate with other teachers in a similar way that I collaborate with my teammates. It's really interconnected. Softball teaches you how to deal with hard things that you're going to face in your real life. I get to apply that a little bit now because student-teaching is similar to what my postgrad life will look like. Everything I've done throughout my collegiate career is preparing me for the challenges I will face in my job or relationships postgrad. Softball and student-teaching are interwoven. I've been taught a lot of things that I can use to help others.
On the fun road trips provide
Road trips are really fun just because it's time to bond with your teammates outside of games or practice. You experience some crazy moments and you're able to talk about it, make new memories and be there for one another through every win and every loss. In the time we spend together, we are able to develop bonds with each of our teammates. It doesn't matter what grade you're in, you can room with a freshman or an upperclassman. We're constantly making new memories. Road trips are a lot of fun because we find ways to pass the time. We play a lot of phone games together and we have a tradition where freshmen have to sing songs on the bus. These trips provide time to make awesome memories with one another.
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On deciding to play softball
Softball was the one sport that I have played since I was really young. I started with t-ball at six years old and just kept going. I played travel ball in middle school and my dad was my coach, so that played a huge role in me continuing to play. When I got to high school and played on different travel teams, he wasn't necessarily my coach, but the sport held a special place in my heart. Softball is the one sport I have always been the most passionate about. It also helped me have a great connection with my dad, who played a massive role in my softball career to help me get to where I am today.
On choosing to attend Toledo
There were a few factors when I was going throughout my recruiting process. I was looking at many things, especially school size, variety of majors, distance from home and the quality of the softball program. I really like the size of MAC schools and Toledo was a perfect distance from home. At the time, I was really looking for something about two hours from my hometown that would help give me a new start. Toledo checked all of the boxes I was looking for in both a university and a softball program. Choosing to be a Rocket was a great fit for me. A lot has changed throughout my career, but I wouldn't go back and change anything. If I didn't face any of the challenges I did, I would never have grown as a player or as a person in the way that I have. My time here has had such a positive impact on me, despite what I've gone through these last four years.
On experiencing a coaching change after her freshman season
Honestly when the new staff came in (Head Coach Jessica Bracamonte), it was a fresh start. From the minute that they took over, you knew that they were here to turn our culture around, turn our chemistry around, turn absolutely everything around and that's what they've done. Any coaching change is hard. There's a lot of unknown, whether its your position or playing time or anything else. Like I said before, I wouldn't change the trajectory of my career because where I am now is due to all of those changes. Going through and navigating the unknown is what challenges you and teaches you how to deal with these situations in your postgrad life.
On switching from third base to outfield
I was doing what the team needed at the time and I just fell in love with the outfield. I had never played outfield before college. I was a pitcher and an infielder up from travel ball until my junior year of college. I got moved out there one practice and I never left. I really love it out there. Being in right field last year was a lot of fun, but I really love center field this season. The seniors that were out there my junior year taught me so much and now I'm able to take on a different role in center field, so it's been great.
On choosing to study early childhood education
I always had it in the back of my mind that I would enjoy teaching and would like to be a teacher, but I wanted to explore other areas first. I was undecided in the College of Health and Human Sciences and after my first semester, I said "Why not? I've thought about this before, it's always interested me and I can see myself doing this."
On student teaching kindergarteners
Right now, I am student-teaching full-time so I teach everyday and take over the whole classroom. I wouldn't change it. I love being a part of their education and a part of their lives, seeing them grow academically and socially. Being a role in their development is something that's really important to me. I love helping the students create experiences and teaching them to be great human beings as they get older.  I could see myself teaching kindergarten after I graduate. I feel most comfortable teaching in the lower grades due to my student-teaching experiences. I love the students, they are so full of energy. They make me smile and challenge me every day in ways that adults don't do. They are really cool.
On the experiences gained through student teaching
I don't think that there are a lot of majors where you have this full-encompassing experience of being totally immersed in exactly what you're going to do postgrad. I will have done everything in the classroom by the time I graduate, and I think that experience is so valuable. Toledo has us doing a lot of in-class experience with Methods student teaching and many other opportunities where I can get involved in the classroom. That's what I enjoy most, knowing that I am as close to it gets to experiencing what it's going to be like when I graduate and have my own classroom.
On learning from softball and applying that to student-teaching
Adaptability and adversity. I am teaching students who come from all these different backgrounds and I have to find a way to adapt the classroom that's going to meet them in the way that they need. Making sure I am being culturally responsive and academically responsive to what the students need. I am always practicing consistent patience and teamwork because I collaborate with other teachers in a similar way that I collaborate with my teammates. It's really interconnected. Softball teaches you how to deal with hard things that you're going to face in your real life. I get to apply that a little bit now because student-teaching is similar to what my postgrad life will look like. Everything I've done throughout my collegiate career is preparing me for the challenges I will face in my job or relationships postgrad. Softball and student-teaching are interwoven. I've been taught a lot of things that I can use to help others.
On the fun road trips provide
Road trips are really fun just because it's time to bond with your teammates outside of games or practice. You experience some crazy moments and you're able to talk about it, make new memories and be there for one another through every win and every loss. In the time we spend together, we are able to develop bonds with each of our teammates. It doesn't matter what grade you're in, you can room with a freshman or an upperclassman. We're constantly making new memories. Road trips are a lot of fun because we find ways to pass the time. We play a lot of phone games together and we have a tradition where freshmen have to sing songs on the bus. These trips provide time to make awesome memories with one another.
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Players Mentioned
IF
/ SoftballToledo Softball - 2025 Season Highlights
Monday, May 05
Toledo Softball vs BGSU - Battle of I-75
Thursday, May 01
Jessica Bracamonte Press Conference
Thursday, July 07
Game 2 Highlights vs. Akron (May 15)
Saturday, May 15
