University’s Dwyer leads Titans to State
SPOKANE, Wash. — Saturday was the finale of the high school sports season, and this week’s Shining Star led the University Titans to state twice in her career after being raised on the softball field.
Home for Gracee Dwyer is in the shape of a diamond .It’s built on dirt and clay, mixed with sunflower seeds, lined with chalk, dugouts, and fold-up chairs.
“My Grandpa coached softball, my grandma played, my mom played, my dad played baseball, my brothers play baseball, and like I literally saw a baseball game 4 days after I was born,” Gracee said.
And she’s never strayed from it, becoming a vital piece of University High School’s fast pitch softball team, and a well-known name in the Greater Spokane League.
“Four year first team all-league player, big time team player, she’s always one of the first ones to practice, one of the last ones to leave. You know, you can always count on her to give it her all,” said Coach Shuh.
A four-year varsity vet, this year she’s not afraid to be vocal and get loud, guiding the Titans all the way to state this year.
“I kind of have that natural ability,” Gracee said. “I blame it on my Mom, so that definitely came in play of just wanting to take charge, and I knew I could so, I did.”
Dwyer is also taking charge of her future, earning a spot on Central Washington’s softball team next year, hoping to become a teacher and coach with a unique skill.
“When I was younger, I didn’t talk for a really long time,” Gracee said. “I was doing sign language, because one of my brothers is disabled, so they went to a special pre-school and I would just go with them and they did sign language and I just caught on to that.”
Whether it’s accommodating her brother, or her team, she makes a habit of putting others first.
“She’s really selfless as far as the fact that she was an all-league first baseman, then she went to third, and then her’s her senior year and she’s played second, short, third and even said she’d pitch, so I mean that’s the ultimate team player right there,” Coach Shuh said.
No matter where she is on the field, or whether it’s for the Titans or the Wildcats next year, these coaches and the teammates she ‘s played with since childhood will always be home base.
“Just who they’ve been to me, and not only for me as a player but as a person,” Gracee said.
Gracee reminds us how meaningful high school sports can be.
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