Oklahoma State University Athletics
Loyal and True: Audrey Schneidmiller Reflects on Her Time at Oklahoma State
October 31, 2023 | Cowgirl Softball
Coming into her freshman year at Oklahoma State, Audrey Schneidmiller was playing her best softball yet. Eager to take the field in America's Brightest Orange, Schneidmiller stepped on campus with big goals and something to prove. That is, until she suffered an injury that sidelined her for the entirety of her freshman season.
"I just didn't feel like I was here. I got all these experiences with the team but never played so it never really felt like a season." Schneidmiller said on her first year in Stillwater.
Learning to live on your own for the first time in college is challenge enough for most, but adding on the rigorous schedule of being a student athlete while rehabbing an injury became Schneidmiller's new normal.
"It was a big bump in the road… it took a toll on me mentally. I grew a lot in the mental and emotional aspects of going through that hardship."
Following a year of recovery, Schneidmiller entered her sophomore year with that same hunger and desire she had the year before. This time around however, she brought a year of mentorship with her.
"I learned a lot from Taylor Tuck and her energy. She was always loud, always excited. When I came in, I was more of a stone-cold player and never showed emotion on the field… That's something that I always admired about her; is how excited she gets on each play."
Tuck was the primary catcher for the 2023 season, however Schneidmiller was able to earn 18 starts in her first year of collegiate softball. She finished the season with a .270 batting average and an on base percentage of .341. One of her highlights from the season was when she blasted her first career home run against then-No. 25 ranked Michigan, on the final day of the Clearwater Invitational.
"In the moment, I didn't even know it was out. I knew I had hit it hard, but it never dawned on me that I had hit one out." Schneidmiller remarks about the at-bat, "It was a rush of emotions. I had hit one in the fall, but it's nothing compared to doing it in uniform playing against Michigan."
This fall has been a great building season for Schneidmiller. With numerous successful at-bats and getting the chance to learn more behind the plate from transfer catcher Caroline Wang, Schneidmiller is ready to keep growing as the season rolls closer.
"Over winter break I plan on keeping in contact with Coach (Whitney) Cloer. I also plan on seeing my hitting coach at home and keep working on what I have been working on here. It doesn't just stop when we leave."
Schneidmiller found success in her first season of college ball, but it's not the stats or the games the team won that she holds value in.
"I'm proud of the bonds I made. Yes, going to the World Series is always the goal and I will always be able to say that I went. In the end, we will remember the bonds that we established while we were here and the fun times we had together."
Those bonds were part of what brought her to Stillwater. After being committed to a different school prior to 2020, Schneidmiller decommitted and reached out to Coach Kenny Gajewski in search of a new place to call home.
"I knew Stillwater. I knew it was a small town and I liked the idea of being at a big school in a small town and the relationships it brought. It was a very emotional time, but I knew it was home."
Entering her third year on campus but only second on the field, Schneidmiller reflected on what her "why" is and how she is holding that close to her to never take the sport for granted.
"My why is to make that little girl that loves softball and dropped everything for the sport proud. When I was 10 years old at the World Series I remember turning to my mom and saying, 'I'm going to be here someday'. I want to make myself and all the little girls out there proud."
"I just didn't feel like I was here. I got all these experiences with the team but never played so it never really felt like a season." Schneidmiller said on her first year in Stillwater.
Learning to live on your own for the first time in college is challenge enough for most, but adding on the rigorous schedule of being a student athlete while rehabbing an injury became Schneidmiller's new normal.
"It was a big bump in the road… it took a toll on me mentally. I grew a lot in the mental and emotional aspects of going through that hardship."
Following a year of recovery, Schneidmiller entered her sophomore year with that same hunger and desire she had the year before. This time around however, she brought a year of mentorship with her.
"I learned a lot from Taylor Tuck and her energy. She was always loud, always excited. When I came in, I was more of a stone-cold player and never showed emotion on the field… That's something that I always admired about her; is how excited she gets on each play."
Tuck was the primary catcher for the 2023 season, however Schneidmiller was able to earn 18 starts in her first year of collegiate softball. She finished the season with a .270 batting average and an on base percentage of .341. One of her highlights from the season was when she blasted her first career home run against then-No. 25 ranked Michigan, on the final day of the Clearwater Invitational.
"In the moment, I didn't even know it was out. I knew I had hit it hard, but it never dawned on me that I had hit one out." Schneidmiller remarks about the at-bat, "It was a rush of emotions. I had hit one in the fall, but it's nothing compared to doing it in uniform playing against Michigan."
This fall has been a great building season for Schneidmiller. With numerous successful at-bats and getting the chance to learn more behind the plate from transfer catcher Caroline Wang, Schneidmiller is ready to keep growing as the season rolls closer.
"Over winter break I plan on keeping in contact with Coach (Whitney) Cloer. I also plan on seeing my hitting coach at home and keep working on what I have been working on here. It doesn't just stop when we leave."
Schneidmiller found success in her first season of college ball, but it's not the stats or the games the team won that she holds value in.
"I'm proud of the bonds I made. Yes, going to the World Series is always the goal and I will always be able to say that I went. In the end, we will remember the bonds that we established while we were here and the fun times we had together."
Those bonds were part of what brought her to Stillwater. After being committed to a different school prior to 2020, Schneidmiller decommitted and reached out to Coach Kenny Gajewski in search of a new place to call home.
"I knew Stillwater. I knew it was a small town and I liked the idea of being at a big school in a small town and the relationships it brought. It was a very emotional time, but I knew it was home."
Entering her third year on campus but only second on the field, Schneidmiller reflected on what her "why" is and how she is holding that close to her to never take the sport for granted.
"My why is to make that little girl that loves softball and dropped everything for the sport proud. When I was 10 years old at the World Series I remember turning to my mom and saying, 'I'm going to be here someday'. I want to make myself and all the little girls out there proud."
Players Mentioned
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