AUSTIN, Texas — Dakota Farmer got introduced to CrossFit workouts a few years ago and she was instantly hooked.

“Seeing the growth and improvement I had just doing a few classes that really got me interested,” says Farmer. “I could actually see the improvements I was making.”

She got interested enough that she started doing different CrossFit competitions across Central Texas and even placed third at one event. While she enjoyed the workouts themselves, CrossFit served a different purpose for Farmer. It was giving her extra strength for her main sport, softball.

“Ever since I started working out I had so much more power, so much more success,” says Farmer. “Hitting wise I feel like I can miss pitches and still hit them far.”

Her training helped her get ready for high school softball as soon as she got to Leander Glenn. Farmer made the varsity team and played as a freshman. Last year as a sophomore, she led the Grizzlies in home runs. 

“I definitely think that what makes her successful is first off her stand out as far as the weight room and her dedication to it,’ says Marissa Guzman, Glenn’s softball coach. “Since Dakota’s stepped on campus it’s been one of those things where it’s like see the weight room does matter.”

The weight room has turned Farmer into one of the top power hitters in Texas. She already has seven long balls this season and recently broke the school record for career home runs.

“I never really thought that would be me, it’s really exciting to see how much I’ve grown,” says Farmer. “I would attribute a lot of my growth as a hitter to the fact that I’ve been so diligent in the weight room.”

Farmer has kept up with her workouts over the years and continues to do them even during the season. Not only has CrossFit given her a lot more strength, the struggle of getting through an intense workout has translated over to the softball field.

“In CrossFit you’re pushing through and you’re sore and tired and just want to lay down and sleep,” says Farmer. “It definitely translates over to softball when it’s hot and you’ve played a lot of games that day and you just got to push through.”

While she is just a junior in high school, her success on the field has already provided opportunities for the future. Farmer is committed to play in college at Penn in the Ivy League.

“Nothing can beat that academic opportunity,” says Farmer. “Whenever I went and visited it was gorgeous, the leaves were falling and I remember touring and it was so surreal and like a movie.”

For now Farmer is focused on this season and trying to help get Glenn back in the playoffs.