Johnson family member Baylee King had the chance to represent her Tribe at a softball game this spring.
Rogers State University, located in Claremore, Oklahoma, hosted a game on April 11 where the university honored tribal members by having each player carry their tribal flag during a ceremony.
King, who plays second base and was a junior at the time, was able to receive a Citizen Potawatomi Nation flag to carry.
“I loved representing my Tribe and getting our name out there more,” she said.
Though she didn’t know she was Potawatomi when she was younger, she said she is still learning and growing in her knowledge of Tribal culture.
That day, Rogers State took on Fort Hays, and King said she and her teammates won both games.
She said she has played softball since she was about 6 years old, and she chose Rogers State so she could be close to home for her last two years of school.
“What a blessing it has been,” King said.
She began her collegiate career at Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia, Arkansas, where she earned All-Conference honors in the Great American Conference and was awarded the NCAA Division II Rawlings Gold Glove at second base.
King is pursuing a career in occupational therapy and hopes to eventually serve and support her Tribal community.