Many college athletes jump right into their respective programs after graduating high school, but former Rochelle Township High School standout and current Kishwaukee College outfielder Michaela Hacaga took a different path than most athletes.

A key contributor for the Lady Hubs varsity softball team last season, Hacaga stayed active in the sport this past summer, often watching her younger sister Teddi play travel softball for the Kishwaukee Valley Storm. She didn’t begin her career at Kishwaukee until the spring though, as she left town for basic training toward the end of summer to become a member of the U.S. Army Reserve.

“Both of my grandfathers were in the Army so that had a lot to do with it,” Hacaga said. “I wanted the money for school and it pays for a lot of my tuition at Kishwaukee… I was definitely behind the other girls because they started in the fall and I wasn’t there because I was at basic training. I tried to overcome it the best I could by putting in a lot of work outside like hitting with a tee, and if I felt like I was lacking in a certain category I would ask my coaches or my teammates for help.”

Despite her time away from softball, Hacaga played in 35 games for the Kougars this season, averaging .178 while driving in nine RBIs, scoring eight runs and stealing two bases. Her best effort at the plate came in Kishwaukee’s 9-0 win over Oakton Community College on April 14, when she went 2-for-3 with a double and two runs scored.

While she admitted the learning curve was a bit steeper for her than for other new players, she said she has liked her college softball experience thus far, and she said she’s planning on returning for the Kougars next season.

“My service conflicted with softball a little bit this season,” Hacaga said. “If we had games on weekends I wouldn’t be able to play because I had to go report, otherwise I would get in big trouble… It took me a little bit to get back into softball because I hadn’t played in about a year, but I thought the season went pretty well and I plan on playing next year.”

Hacaga said her defense was the area she improved the most throughout her freshman campaign, and she said the biggest adjustments for her came at the plate, where she dealt with a variety of different pitches as opposed to the basic pitches she took at the high school level. On the other hand, some of her favorite aspects of college softball include traveling and playing at different schools.

“I saw a lot more movement with the ball,” she said. “In high school most of the pitches I saw were either fastballs or changeups, but college pitchers have more screwballs or curveballs, and their changeups are a lot better… We went to Rosemont and played on a turf field and everything. I really like my teammates and it’s nice getting to know other people besides those I’d gone to school with since middle school.”

Hacaga may be continuing her softball career at Kishwaukee, but she said she also wants to remain involved with the U.S. Army. She said she enjoyed her experience at basic training this past August, and while she’s looking to pursue a bachelor’s degree in nursing, she may become more active with the Army in the future.

“After I got out of basic training I really did consider going active duty because I enjoyed it so much, but now I’m kind of on the path to where I want to get my degree first and then see where I’m at,” she said. “My brother [Sam] graduated eighth grade recently and they had a moment where everyone who is serving or had served stood up… Sam looked back at us and I could see how proud he was, so the best part for me about being in the Reserve is knowing I’m doing my family and my country proud.”