Katie Kerman: Congratulations on your Centennial Athlete of the Week award and becoming the program’s all-time leader in triples and stolen-bases! Can you take us through those moments when you broke two program records and how you and your team celebrated?
Iris Barone: Thank you! I think the triples record was against Ursinus [College] and stolen bases was against [Franklin & Marshall College]. Honestly, I knew going into the season that I was close to some records, but I don’t pay too much attention to it or track any of the numbers. My coaches have been the ones to tell me when they happen. It’s a cool moment, but we’re all focused on the game and looking forward to the rest of the season. I think once my career is over I’ll be able to process and celebrate the records a little bit more.
KK: The softball team has gone 22-8 and 9-1 in conference. What has contributed to some of the successes the team is seeing so far this season?
IB: I think as a defensive unit we’ve gelled and have been playing really clean. The more we play together, the more we understand each other’s tendencies and ranges. It also helps that we have such a strong pitching staff! Offensively, we’ve gotten into a groove, and everyone in our lineup is capable of stepping up at any point in the game. Overall, we’ve just been having a lot of fun, and I’m super excited to see how the rest of the season goes!
KK: Now that you’re in the middle of the season, what team and individual goals are you hoping to accomplish in the weeks ahead?
IB: Our biggest goal is to become the first team in conference history to win back-to-back championships. That’s really all I’ve been focusing on.
KK: As a senior, how has your role on the team morphed during your four seasons?
IB: I’ve been lucky to be a captain my junior and senior seasons, so that role has been extremely different compared to my first two years. Especially in my first year, I was just focused on how the team and I were playing. Now, I get to support my teammates and motivate us all to the same team goal. Each year has brought different challenges but I’ve been fortunate to have amazing teammates and coaches that have led with me.
KK: How would you describe the softball team’s culture and how do you all work on it continuously?
IB: I would say we have an extremely strong team culture. We’re one of the smaller teams on campus and are genuinely friends with each other. I think we all trust each other as teammates and friends, which comes from spending time together outside of practice and investing in each other’s lives. I think we have such a unique team dynamic because we are all competitive individuals, but also celebrate each other’s success more than our own. We are lucky to face such strong competition against each other in practice, but once we are playing games everyone shares the same goal of winning.
KK: What does a typical conference game day look like for you?
IB: For weekday games, I usually get a big breakfast before going to class. I only have one class in the morning on game days, so after that I’ll get lunch and head to the fieldhouse to start my pre-game routine. I like to have extra time to do what I need in the training room and get some light hitting in by myself before getting ready with the team. Once everyone is ready we’ll start warm ups and play two games. Weekend games are the same routine without the class!
KK: What are some of your favorite things to do with your teammates, not including softball-related activities?
IB: We love to do team karaoke. It’s always super fun and everyone goes all out with it.
KK: What is your major and favorite course you have taken at Swat?
IB: I’m a biochemistry major, and my favorite course was probably Physical Chemistry I. It’s the most difficult class I’ve taken conceptually, but it was extremely rewarding and changed my perspective on a lot of ideas in chemistry.
KK: Finally, if you could tell your first-year self something what might you say?
IB: I would say to enjoy the process. We all work so hard throughout the year in the weight room and at practice, so the games are when I get to have fun and play with my best friends! [Assistant Coach Jen Moore] always tells us that we’ve worked so hard, and the games are when we reward ourselves. I’ve definitely found that to be true and something I wish I heard a long time ago!
