A Home Away From Home: Tallen Edwards Reflects on First Year in Stillwater

Starting 58 games for a team that played in the Women's College World Series and finished ranked No. 6 in the nation is an impressive feat for any freshman, but for Tallen Edwards, it was the expectation.

Now a sophomore, Edwards graduated from Southmoore High School a year early to join the Oklahoma State Softball team for the 2023 season. Having played club softball under Rocky Thompson, one of the most decorated club softball coaches in the country, Edwards was equipped to take on the challenge of starting her collegiate career early.

"He was super disciplined, and we had to be the same way when we were playing. He taught me a lot when it came to college softball" Edwards said. "Our practices were run exactly how Oklahoma State's practices are run. The way he coached definitely prepared me for what I walked into this past year."

Coming into Oklahoma State, Edwards was a highly touted recruit, listed as the No. 3 overall prospect by Extra Innings Softball. In addition to being named a 2022 Premier Girls Fastpitch All-American, she was also the recipient of the Michele Smith award, given to the top five high school softball athletes in Oklahoma every year.

After making the move to Stillwater, Edwards started her career batting .448 in the first month of games. During a time when she was supposed to be getting ready to walk across the graduation stage with her class, she was instead learning how to adapt to the rigorous world of being a Division I student-athlete.

"I knew I had the talent to play here but it was mentally tough going through practices and the schedule, it was really hard," she said. "So just telling myself to have fun and just compete to the best of my ability helped me keep focused."

She played a pivotal role in the Cowgirls' record-breaking season where they clinched a fourth-consecutive NCAA Women's College World Series berth. Edwards picked up D1Softball freshman All-America honors with a .328 batting average, 57 hits and 26 runs batted in on the season.

Entering her sophomore campaign, Edwards targets a leadership position within the team and is eager to be a role model for the freshman class. Though she and the freshmen share the same graduation year and age, Edwards brings a successful year and a World Series appearance under her belt.

"I've already been here, I've done it," Edwards said. "Last year, playing at the highest level, it was perfect timing for me. It feels great to step into this role and be with a brand-new team with a lot of young players and be able to guide them and help them. It just feels good."

As a freshman, Edwards achieved an impressive .997 fielding percentage, tallying only one error in a position she had never played before. Originally a middle infielder, Edwards was tasked with not only learning how to balance life as a collegiate student-athlete, but also a whole new position in the outfield.

"It was scary at first. It was very scary." Edwards said, "I had no clue what I was doing the first couple of weeks, but I wanted to play. I knew that even if I wasn't doing great in practice, that I was going to come out here an hour later and figure it out just working on the little things."

Just a 74.5-mile drive between her hometown and Cowgirl Stadium, Edwards has found a home in Stillwater. For her, family is everything, and after leaving her hometown at just 17, she needed a place that would wrap her up with open arms. Thanks to the Loyal and True, she's found just that.

"I'm getting to meet a lot more people, and the past couple of weeks have been so fun," she said, "Just being around the culture, the second year around feels very free, and it feels like everyone here is so supportive. This place is really cool."

Along with a great fanbase, Edwards has found a great culture within Cowgirl Softball and head coach Kenny Gajewski. She said that was a significant factor in her decision to come to Stillwater a year earlier than expected.

"I think from the jump, that's the main reason I committed. It wasn't for anything materialistic. It wasn't what could he do for me, but it was what he could be for me."

Gajewski and Edwards began communicating in 2021, right around the time Edwards's father, Larry Edwards, passed away.

"That's when I committed. He stepped into that role and hasn't stepped out of it since. He's been such a father figure to me. I think it's so comfortable to play under somebody that you know you can go talk to at any time for anything, it doesn't have to be about softball."

She described the relationship with Gajewski and the culture in the program simply - "it's just comfortable."

Edwards is not only working to create her own opportunities on the field, but also off the field to bring awareness towards alopecia, an autoimmune disease that attacks hair follicles and causes hair loss. As a woman with alopecia herself, Edwards is making it her mission to create a conversation about the autoimmune disease as well as pairing it with her NIL opportunities.

"Not for the money, but mainly to bring that awareness," Edwards said. "I'm trying to get NILs with companies that do temporary tattooed eyebrows and wigs, stuff like that. I'm just trying to get myself out there in that world so I can bring it to someone else and hopefully help them out with whatever they're experiencing."

Even though she's only 18, Edwards carries herself like a veteran both on and off the field. Her expectation is to hold herself to an even higher standard, especially when it comes to failure. She is ready to give her all every day whether it be at practice, in her relationships, or bringing awareness to something she's passionate about.

Oklahoma State University Athletics

A Home Away From Home: Tallen Edwards Reflects on First Year in Stillwater

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Tallen Edwards

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