TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) – Lanie Woodson will be the first to tell you, everything she\u2019s accomplished, she\u2019s had to work for.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have never walked on the field and been the best one from the beginning.\u201d<\/p>\n
Which makes this senior year so special. <\/p>\n
\u201cShe has that \u2018it factor,\u2019 you can\u2019t really explain it, it\u2019s instinctual,\u201d said Lincoln head softball coach Kelly Harris. \u201cShe\u2019s the get it done kind of kid.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Lincoln senior has accomplished a lot, starting this fall, when Woodson signed with Gulf Coast, and then helped the girls weightlifting team to a second place finish at state.<\/p>\n
\u201cComing off of that high, it got me going for softball,\u201d she said of the finish at state. \u201cI\u2019ve had a good mindset heading into this season.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cShe\u2019s kind of showing the other girls this is what we work for the whole year, this is the whole purpose for everything we\u2019re doing,\u201d added Harris.<\/p>\n
But it hasn\u2019t all been good.<\/p>\n
\u201cI found out my dad had a brain tumor the day before our first regular season game.\u201d<\/p>\n
Woodson\u2019s dad was diagnosed with an atypical brain tumor.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe was actually here with us,\u201d remembered Harris. \u201cI told her nobody blames you. Get in your car, go be with your family.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI would rather be out here. It takes my mind off of things.\u201d<\/p>\n
Through it all softball, and her teammates, have been her happy place.<\/p>\n
\u201cI look at life completely different.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe work hard. We want this, but ultimately it\u2019s just a sport and it\u2019s just for fun,\u201d said Harris. \u201cThere are more important things, real world stuff, and she has handled things with such grace.\u201d<\/p>\n
Handled it and continued to excel, maintaining a 4.4 GPA.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s impressive that any kid has been able to keep up with these things like she has,\u201d said Harris.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m graduating Magna cum laude, so I\u2019m really, really proud of that,\u201d said Woodson. \u201cIt makes everything worth it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI couldn\u2019t be more proud of her because it has been a tough year, and everything she\u2019s been going through? She\u2019s special,\u201d added Harris.<\/p>\n
A special kid, who\u2019s worked for every single thing she has. Woodson said her dad is okay, and he has started radiation. Woodson said she wants to major in health sciences.<\/p>\n
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