Family is Forever: How Sophie Page's Family Has Impacted Her Time in Stillwater

When Sophie Page's older sister, Josie, moved seven hours from home to play softball at the University of Florida, Sophie originally thought there was no way she could ever do something like that. There was no chance she was going to be that far away from her hometown, nor her parents.

Well, she's doing it now.

Page lives almost 12 hours away in Stillwater, a place that is almost 750 miles apart from her hometown of Chatom, Ala.

The way she sees it, she's found a new home away from home.

"I'm from a small town, so when I went to Stillwater it had that small town atmosphere and felt like home," Page said. "It's what I'm used to, everybody says Stillwater is small, but I don't know any different."

As a child growing up in a small town of just over 1,000 people, there wasn't much to do other than play sports, hang out with friends and family or go hunting with her father, Shane.

Ever since she was old enough to walk, the pair have regularly gone hunting in the woods near her house, forming a special bond over the long hours and countless memories made in nature.

"I've been going hunting for as long as I can remember," Page said. "It's a big part of our lives and something we enjoy doing. We live in the woods, so it makes it convenient and it's something we enjoy doing together."

Now that she's in Stillwater and doesn't have access to the woods in her backyard, Page finds time whenever she can to go hunting… Even if that means waking up a little early on gamedays.

"My dad found a spot for us to go turkey hunting," Page explained. "I went turkey hunting one morning before one of the games, it was opening day for turkey season. So, I killed a turkey and then went to the field and got ready for the game."

In addition to having a close relationship with her parents, Page has a special bond with Josie. When she wasn't hunting, she could be found on the softball diamond, making memories with her big sister.

"She started playing when she was eight, and we're about four years apart, so I was four about to turn five," Page said. "I just did whatever she did - I'd go to her practices; I'd practice with her teammates. Honestly, I think that's what kind of sparked my interest (in softball), just seeing her play."

After watching her sister play all throughout their childhood, Page was inspired. She made the decision to stick with softball and started to work on perfecting her craft.

Following four years as an all-region honoree at Satsuma High School, Page began her collegiate career at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. During her freshman season at UAB, Page started 24 games in her first collegiate season and had 11 hits with six runs scored and six RBI in 46 at-bats.

After spending one season with the Blazers, it was time for a change. Page entered her name into the transfer portal and found a new home with coach Kenny Gajewski at Oklahoma State University.

"It was the program, the coaches and the girls on the team. I felt so welcomed when I went on my visit, it just seemed like home," Page said.

Her first year at OSU didn't go to plan for Page, however. Due to a hip and hamstring injury, she was unable to play for most of the season.

"It was difficult to be hurt," Page said. "Obviously I wanted to be out there with the girls practicing and doing my part, but it motivated me to work harder in rehab so I could get back out there as quick as I could."

Back to full strength and full health this year, she's excited to return to the field with her teammates. Except now, she looks at it through a different lens.

"I'm looking forward to spending time with the girls and traveling," Page said. "Playing softball is so much fun and it's something that I've done for as long as I can remember, and I love it. But at the end of the day, when the season's over and we've played our last game, we're going to remember the memories."

Even though she's almost 750 miles away from her hometown, there has always remained one constant throughout Page's time in college: her family.

Although they're now 12 hours away, they still attend most Cowgirl Softball games.

"Family is a huge part of my life because that was a big factor in making my decision," Page said. "My family hates missing games, so they catch as many as they can. I think they only missed one fall game. They don't care where it is or who we're playing - it doesn't matter, they just enjoy coming up, visiting, and watching."

A self-described homebody, Page's family means the world to her. Being so far away from home would be tough on anyone, but with her family's unwavering support, she feels she's right where she needs to be.

"Here I am, 12 hours from home, and I wouldn't say I'm homesick at all, because I am home in Stillwater," Page explained. "As nice as it is to come home every now and then, I feel like I belong in Stillwater."

Oklahoma State University Athletics

Family is Forever: How Sophie Page's Family Has Impacted Her Time in Stillwater

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Sophie Page

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