Angelina Luna Embracing Growth Through Softball
Angelina Luna: Building Her Path in the Game She Loves
For Knoxville native and Class of 2028 utility player Angelina Luna, the journey to softball started in an unexpected way. Before she ever stepped into the batter’s box, Luna was deeply involved in dance and cheer. It was not until middle school that she began to feel the pull toward the diamond.
“Softball became an important part of my life in the eighth grade,” Luna said. “I had been playing for three years already, but that year really solidified that I loved playing. When I was younger, I did a lot of cheer and dance sports, but I was so intrigued by how powerful the collegiate athletes were. I was still on the cheer team that year, but I found myself wanting to go to softball practice all the time. I love the game and want to play it as long as I can.”
Commitment to Ball and Academics
Luna’s development has ramped up since stepping into high school at Knoxville Central. She prides herself on giving her all at every practice and constantly looks for ways to improve.
“My process has really ramped up, especially when I started high school,” she said. “I try to be at every practice and work as hard as I can when I’m there. I lift weights when I can and often go to extra practices or stay late to get more work in. I also go to a hitting coach once a week to keep my swing smooth.”
Outside of school ball, Luna competes with Tennessee Impact, an organization that continues to challenge her and push her game forward. Being part of a competitive travel team has helped her grow both physically and mentally as she learns to handle new situations and competition.
Excelling both in the classroom and on the field, Luna maintains a strong academic record with a 3.58 unweighted GPA and a 3.95 weighted GPA. She has already taken AP and dual enrollment courses and aims to graduate summa cum laude.
“My schooling is very important to me, so I always make sure I finish before I have practice or a game,” Luna said. “If I cannot get it done during school hours, I do it right after. It has taken me a long time to build that habit, and I credit my parents for teaching me the importance of good study habits early on.”
Influences and The Right Surroundings
Behind every motivated athlete is someone who helps shape their mindset, and for Luna, that person has been Coach James Swaney.
“Coach Swaney has been one of the most influential people in my life,” she said. “He has taught me important things on the field, but also how to communicate, how to be unafraid, and the importance of working hard. I am so grateful for everything he has taught me.”
Luna cherishes the highs that come with competing, like the thrill of her walk-off base hit last season with the Central Bobcats. Like anyone that has ever played this game, her path has not come without challenges. Sometimes those challenges can be finding the right people or fit.
“Finding like minded people on travel teams has been one of my struggles,” she said. “I used to feel like I was too much or too loud when trying to help others. I overcame that by realizing I am not too much, I just have goals and needed to be around people who have the same drive as me.”
Looking Ahead
As she continues to grow, Luna has her sights set on the next level. Her focus is on building connections, getting exposure, and being coachable in every setting.
“I need to make sure I put myself out there and create connections with people who can help me reach the next level,” Luna said. “Going to every camp I can and taking every correction I am given will help me get there.”
With her work ethic, academic focus, and passion for the game, Angelina Luna is paving her own path in the sport she loves, one practice, one lesson, and one swing at a time.
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