As Memorial moves into the postseason, the Mustangs will be looking to Gentry for her leadership on the mound and her consistency as a team player. The 19-5A undefeated district champs for two consecutive years will take on Chavez Friday night in a one game face-off and Gentry will be a key factor as the Mustangs look for a victory. 

The Athlete's Connection recognizes Gentry not only for her outstanding season but for the outstanding character and leadership she brings to this team. Hannah shared her story with us better that any staff writer could have written or edited this very special piece. Presenting, in her own words, Hannah Gentry, the athlete, friend, servant, daughter, sister, and AC All-Star Athlete of the Week, Congratulations! 

I was born and raised in Houston.  I went to Second Baptist School through fifth grade, attended Memorial Middle School, and then on to Memorial High School.  I plan on attending Texas A&M University when I graduate in 2008.  Although I have loved playing softball all of my life, I do not plan on continuing to play in college. However, I do plan on making my name known on the intramural fields.

I started playing softball when I five years old.  I have always played the pitcher's position, but when I was in third grade, I began to actually pitch, but it wasn't until sixth grade that I really became very serious about it. Through middle school, I played any and every sport that I could.  My family is very into sports, and if I was not the one playing, I was there watching my older brother or my younger sister.  I have always been very competitive in everything that I do. 

 

My freshman and sophomore years in high school, I played both softball and volleyball.  After making varsity my freshman year in softball, and playing two years on the team, I knew that all my time needed to be devoted to softball, rather than be split by both sports.

This summer I plan on backpacking with my YoungLife group in Colorado, and I will also be attending a YoungLife camp in Arizona for the month of July working as a member of the volunteer staff.

  I am currently taking all Pre-AP and AP classes, and I am part of the National Honors Society and the Spanish Honors Society. My freshman year, I was awarded "Newcomer of the Year" for the 18-5A 2005 softball season.

I love riding four-wheelers and deer hunting.  I absolutely love waking up at 5:00 AM and sitting in the deer blind with my dad waiting for the sun to come up and hoping to see a few deer.  I am very active in YoungLife and attend Monday night club and Wednesday night campaigners.  I have attended BootCamp in the mornings before school with my mom for the past two years, and I love that time that we get to spend together.  I like just going to movies and hanging out with my friends on the weekends.

I like having that control of the game by being on the mound, and of course I love to win.  A few years ago, I was told that I was not fast enough to throw the ball past any batters.  I also found out that I was a junk-ball pitcher.  I used my drop ball, change up, rise ball, curve ball, and screw to catch batters off balance, rarely throwing my fast ball.  Other than pitching, I play second base and left field.  I will never lose the love for the game.  I feel like I am a fairly adequate pitcher, but without my teammates, I am nothing.  Our team only wins because of the people in the positions around me.  It is that diving catch in the outfield, or even that courtesy runner advancing a base that wins games.  I learned everything that I know about the game of softball from my coaches, such as Keith Aldinger, Roy Chaney, Tina Young, and most from my biggest fan, my dad.  Many of the girls that I now play against, I have at some point played with in my softball career.

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