Rising Star: 2020 Grace Guzman Falls For Michigan

Rising Star: 2020 Grace Guzman Falls For Michigan

Rising Star: 2020 Grace Guzman verbally commits to Michigan

Sep 26, 2017 by Chez Sievers
Rising Star: 2020 Grace Guzman Falls For Michigan

Grace Guzman from Napa, California, was one of the most highly sought 2020 recruits in the nation. Her softball journey started in the third grade when her friend invited her to go to her rec softball game. She picked up a ball and started playing catch. As the distance stretched between her and her throwing partner, she realized she had a strong arm.

When Guzman went home to tell her parents that she wanted to play softball, they were perplexed because the Guzman family was a "tennis family."

Her brother, Michael, played on the UCLA tennis and her father had been a tennis player at Creighton University.

"I actually didn't even really like any sports," Grace said. "I tried soccer. I tried basketball. I tried tennis. I tried dance and ballet. And then softball and it just clicked with me. I finally liked a sport."

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Not knowing much about softball, her parents put Guzman on a local travel team. Guzman started as a shortstop and eventually, center field became her main position. As her skills improved, she moved from Express to KG Hitters to Sorcerer and now plays for All-American Sports Academy.

During her seventh-grade year, college coaches listed Guzman as one of the top recruits. It was 11 PM and her team was playing the Atlanta Vipers at PGF. A crowd of college coaches stayed to watch the game.

Oklahoma head coach Patty Gasso was one of those coaches.

"My first visit was to Oklahoma, which I have to say was a great first visit," Guzman said. "It was one of my favorite visits. Everyone was so nice. Patty Gasso, I love her. With my parents being from there, I really thought that I would verbal there but my heart was set somewhere else."

Being so young, Guzman decided she needed more time and experience under her belt before making a decision. She went on unofficial visits to Cal, Oregon, Stanford, and Michigan.

Imagine a crowd of 100,000 fans lined up for the Michigan football game while hall of fame coach Carol Hutchins escorts Guzman and the other recruits to the front of the line.

"I fell in love with Michigan," Guzman said. "I remember coming back and after 45 minutes after being home in California I remember saying, 'I really miss Michigan.'"

When Guzman decided to verbally commit, she spoke with Hutch—at home in her pajamas—on FaceTime.

"I want to be Wolverine," Guzman said.

Hutch replied, "Think of yourself as a Wolverine."

It was the perfect fit.

Grace Guzman

Hometown: Napa, California

High School: Napa High School

Grad Year: 2020

Club Team: All-American Sports Academy - Merrida

Position: Center field

Most embarrassing moment on the softball field: Last Colorado, I was playing center field, (and) there was a runner at first. A pop-up comes to me. I drop the ball and it comes straight out but I threw it straight to second and got her out. It was the most embarrassing thing I have ever done. I can't even think about it without cringing.

Last song you listened to: "Look What You Made Me Do" by Taylor Swift

Favorite softball player: Courtney Ceo

Dream car: Mercedes G-Wagon

Dream vacation: Bora Bora

If you could have a superpower, what would it be? To fly

Dream job: College coach

If you could be mentored by anyone who would it be? Coach Hutch

Favorite quote or mantra you live by: "She said she could, so she did."

Describe yourself in one word on and off the field: Humble