Olympic medalist Amanda Chidester of Allen Park speaks to a crowd of students at her alma mater Cabrini High School during an Oct. 4 ceremony honoring her Silver Medal at the 2020 Olympic Games.
By ZEINAB NAJM
Sunday Times Newspapers
ALLEN PARK — Community. That was the word Olympian Amanda Chidester, 31, focused on during her speech during a ceremony honoring her Silver Medal with the U.S. women’s softball team at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.
She had the walkoff hit against Australia winning 2-1 in eight innings and advanced Team USA to its fifth-straight Olympic gold medal game.
Chidester stood on the football field at her former high school, Cabrini High School in Allen Park Oct. 4 after she had just been surprised with the retirement of her No. 3 jersey by her former softball coach, Cabrini Athletic Director Deb Norman.
She graduated from Cabrini in 2008 where she played basketball, volleyball and softball before playing softball at the University of Michigan from 2009 to 2012. Chidester currently plays catcher and infielder for the Chicago Bandits.
As Chidester spoke to the students, she shared her experiences and advice.
“Why was Cabrini special to me? I love this small community,” she said. “I thought knowing everyone in the school was special. I value connection, I value the faith base I grew up with in the Catholic church.
“I understand my values and morals and what the right thing to do is because when you’re faced in life you’re going to be faced with a lot of questions and choices. I really feel like Cabrini has really paved the way for me to have several right decisions lined up one after the other.”
Chidester said that although she has played many teams, playing on the teams at Cabrini were special.
“I don’t remember all these accolades, but what I do remember is the time I spent with all my teammates and all the memories we made on the bus rides and in the classrooms,” she said. “I think that is so important to remember, not getting so caught up in the results. Get caught up in the process of it. Get caught up in — we’re going to fail but how are you going to respond?”
Chidester told the students about her ups and downs including getting cut from Team USA in 2019 before working hard and training to make it back and on the team, then eventually play in the Olympics.
“It is important to know that every day you have choices,” she said. “Should I turn in this paper on time or should I be lazy and turn it in late? Turn it in on time and just get it done.
“So, those different moments are just going to keep leading you into better situations to have success in your life in whatever it is you want to do. Never forget that, it’s whatever you want to do, whatever you’re passionate about and whatever you love — go for that.”
Mayor Gail McLeod presented a proclamation to Chidester at the ceremony and congratulated her on all of her success, athletically and in life.
“To say we are incredibly proud of her is an understatement,” McLeod said. “I think not just what she’s achieved athletically and academically but what she has achieved as an individual serving as a roll model for thousands of young women who we hope persevere to become all they can be.”
(Zeinab Najm can be reached at [email protected].)