Interview with Shelby Estocado
Shelby Estocado played softball at the University of Tulsa. She was in my class, the only one to spend all 4 years with me. She graduated in 2018 with her bachelor’s in Business Administration focus in entrepreneurship AKA Family Owned Business. She also played for the USA baseball women’s national team.
She is now a T-6 Paraplegic athlete for the High Fives Foundation in Truckee, California and living in Reno, Nevada. She does CrossFit daily and competitions, mono-ski, mountain bike, surfing, sled hockey, and more. On top of all that, she works in the medical tech industry for Stryker.
Below I have written most of what we talked about but you can listen to the full podcast HERE.
Q: What sports did you play as a kid?
A: Growing up I was a super competitive kid with 2 brothers. I played baseball with the boys until I was 13. Basketball was up there. I played whatever sport you can think of except soccer. Once I turned 14 I made that transition over to softball and I played basketball as well at Bishop Gormon in Las Vegas. I received a scholarship for the University of Tulsa which is a top school for softball with a great business program. It was tough playing baseball as a girl. I would notice that there were girls playing on other baseball teams but my committee didn’t want me to play. One year they didn’t do try outs and just looked at stats to form the team. They shut me down even though I had fantastic stats. I decided then to try out softball. Baseball and softball are two completely different sports and I fell in love with both because they have different experiences.
Q: Do you feel like you would have done a different degree if you weren’t a student-athlete?
A: I think so. My mom has been in the medical field as an advanced wound care specialist and a physical therapist. I’ve looked up to her as a kid thinking maybe I’ll want to pursue something more clinical like PT or nursing. I probably would have pursued that. I stuck with the business side of things because it’s hard to do clinicals as an athlete. There is a chance I could have gone that route. I am still in the medical field just on the business side but it worked out.
Q: How did playing competitive sports shape who you are today?
A: Playing at the D1 level and for USA and being a part of that sports community, is tough and it disciplines you. You respect your coaches and teammates and you find out how to be a leader in different ways. It teaches you good discipline and respect. That competitive drive and want to win was my mentality and I bring that to my every day life whether it’s in work or training. I want to train with the best people and be around the best people. It taught me to have a really good mindset about life and focus on what makes me happy and that competitive drive.
Q: Did you consider being a full time team coach?
A: After college I did go back and help coach my high school at Bishop Gormon in Vegas. I considered it and did a few lessons here and there. You never know unless you try it out and you want to gain that experience to see if you like it or not. I tried it out and it was fun but it wasn’t what I wanted to do.
Q: What was your recovery like with all of your injuries in college?
A: Freshman year we were playing Oklahoma State in a midweek game and one of my knees swelled up like 2 or 3 inches. I couldn’t bend it, it was weird to run on it, and I don’t know what happened. It was funny because after practice I went to the training room and I was like let’s doctor this baby up and take care of this. I was like I can still move I can still play. Right before playing OSU our trainer Joni was so smart and researched how to effectively use KT tape. She cut it in a way to best heal my knee. The next day my knee swelling went down to normal. It was crazy.
Sophomore year is when I got cleated so bad in the shin. We were playing against South Florida and I was playing shortstop and our catcher Cat Horner threw down to second because this girl stole and I tagged her out. She went cleats up and hit me right in the shin. I got it doctored up and I was still able to play but I got really torn up.
Junior year Maddie Withee and I collided at Wichita State and I got a black eye and it swelled shut. We did dry needling in my face and iced it a lot. It is the eye that first sees the ball when I am up to bat. It was important for that to heal. We went to play at East Carolina and I ended up hitting really well.
Senior year I broke my jaw and lost two of my teeth. The week we were traveling to our first tournament opening of the season at McNeese I lost two teeth and broke my jaw. I had 3 implants and 7 root canals. I have great doctors and you can’t even tell I lost my teeth and broke my jaw. I had 2 doctors tell me that I could play as long as I had a mask on and cage on my helmet. My dentist and endodonist saw me but the team doctor just made a judgment off a photo and told me I couldn’t play. After some convincing, the school doctor let me play but in the outfield with a mask on. I was just like that is okay as long as I can play. I hadn’t practiced in the outfield at all and I was just ready to play. At the end of the day, it’s a mindset. If you want it, you can do it.
Q: What was the transition out of playing college softball like for you?
A: It’s crazy how when you start out your freshman year and upper classman say “enjoy it because it goes by fast” but as a freshman you’re like “I just got here”! It really does go by fast. It’s crazy because that’s your life you work up as a kid to get a scholarship to play at that school and then it’s over. In college you have a lot of resources and then after college that’s it. Once you have that degree you have a lot of doors open for you which is cool. Once you see your whole life was pretty much athletics and then it’s pretty much done, especially for girls because the pro side is not the best, it’s tough and it hits you. Your last play, your last game, and it’s done right after that which is so crazy to look back and think about . It was tough and it wasn’t easy. I was still playing for USA baseball so I had that to look forward to. I was always humbled to play for that team and I was happy to be able to look forward to continue to do that. In 2020 I had a snowboarding accident that left me paralyzed and I didn’t know where my life was going. It was even harder for me to take in cuz I was like what am I going to do with my life now? It was tough after college for sure. Your college days you’ll remember that and you’ll miss those days. You’ve got 4 years there and then it’s done. I’ll always look back and remember all the fun times.
Q: What was one of your favorite moments while competing in college?
A: Sophomore year we hosted our conference (American Athletic Conference) tournament. We were not in the top seed. I just remember people had their doubts against us. We got together as a team and we were ready to win. We didn’t listen to the people that didn’t think we were going to win because we knew we are going to win. My favorite memory was against UCF. I don’t think it was the championship game but I remember that I was on third base and coach J made a sub. It was Jocelyn, our walk on senior and she steps up to the plate and she knocked it out of the park so hard that ball is still going. She trained so hard and worked so hard. She had a great senior year and it was a last minute change for her to come up to the plate and she knocked it out of the park. Sophomore year we ended up winning that tournament and the celebration with the team after was so fun. No one reached third base against us that whole tournament. It was a momentum changer for our whole college career hosting that tournament and winning that and taking those wins to the next years. We wanted to win so bad I felt it and that’s what I respected out of our team because everyone was a leader in their own way. We ended up becoming AAC conference championships 3 times in a row. There’s so many great memories and so many games we did so well I could go on.
Q: What is your daily life like now?
A: In February of 2020 I was injured in a snowboarding accident. It’s a T6 injury and I have no function in my legs and little function in my core. I am very fortunate to have my mom as a PT. I have to watch my skincare and she helps with that. I moved up to Reno last year in January to be with High Fives Foundation. The wheelchair community is so awesome here. I worked for Stryker before my accident and this company cares for all of their employees. They kept me on the team just as a different position. I work from home and I travel a lot to my hospitals that I overlook. I work full time and I balance that with CrossFit every day and I also train at the High Fives CRJ Healing center in Truckee. We have a trainer there for all of the High Fives athletes and that’s nice to go to as well. In the winter season I train skiing as well. I will be training with some of the USA Paralympic athletes. I love surfing, too. I have the adaptive CrossFit games to look forward to. I am currently 3rd in the world and I’m stoked about that. It is mountain biking season right now and that is fun. Tahoe is beautiful and there are so many water sports to do but mountain biking is one of my favorite sports. We have a hockey team. I play sled hockey with some of the adaptive athletes. I’m basically staying active and that’s what makes me happy. Balancing work and my athletic life is what motivates me and keeps me going and I like my lifestyle right now. I go watch my baseball teammates play and they keep me involved with their events. They’ve had my back since my injury and I get to see them which I’m super stoked about. It’s hard work to keep going. If you want something, you work for it and you make it happen. You have to find that time to balance and prioritize what needs to happen and what you need to do to take care of yourself. I have a standing frame and equipment at home. I’m sitting in a chair all day and I have to make sure I take care of myself. It’s not easy and I want to balance work and everything else. My biggest goal is to train for the 2026 Winter Paralympics. I know that will take a lot of sacrifices but I will make it work. That is what I do. I make sure I call my friends. I have support by surrounding myself with good people.
Q: You are currently in the process of getting sponsors as a paraplegic athlete. How is that different than college athletics?
A: In college basically your income is that scholarship. Tulsa was really expensive and getting that athletic scholarship was basically your payment. That should be an honor. After college you’re on your own. When you are trying to get sponsored, you have to have the connections and put yourself out there. I told myself I want to get sponsored and find a sport that I love and that’s skiing. Alana Nichols is the first medalist to place gold in summer and winter Paralympics. She is a huge mentor for me and has connected me with great female athletes. When you have great people in your life and that support, great things will happen. After college you have your support but you’re building everything for yourself now. I just have to keep training and my mentors will be guiding me. When I’m done I will mentor the next athlete.
Q: What advice would you give to someone who is recently done playing a sport?
A: Be prepared however you can because you know that day is going to be approaching. Be ready for that day. Whatever you want to do, do it. It’s really hard to do an internship while you play sports in college. Be prepared and know what you want before that day comes. Use those resources on your college campus and reach out to others who have been there. Don’t be afraid to reach out to other people who have gone through it. If you want something, you will find a way to make it happen.
Q: What advice would you give to someone who is currently playing a sport?
A: Always enjoy that time you have with your team. Respect your coaches and teammates 100%. Always welcome every single one of your players onto the team. If they are new to the program, always be that hand to help out and welcome everyone on the team. It sucks when someone is excluded or scared to talk to someone. Be that leader that talks to everyone. At Tulsa we had such a good team and everyone had that mindset to want to win. It takes that leadership and it takes one person to be that leader and set a way for the team to have that chemistry. It shows a lot and helps your team win. You have to find a way to master time management. Use your resources! It was not easy in college but set yourself up for being successful. Don’t slack in any way on the field or in the classroom. Stay healthy and represent your team.
Q: Do you have anything else to add?
A: Try hard at everything you do. Since my accident my whole lifestyle different. I never thought I could do it but I try hard with everything I do and it takes a lot of work but I am now living independent. There are good days and tough days never any bad days, just keep pushing. Everyone has things they’re going through. It’s a mindset. Live for today in the moment. Always surround yourself with positive people.
If you have any more questions for Shelby, please leave comments below or contact me. If you or someone you know is struggling, please call the Suicide Hotline. It’s toll free and available 24/7 at 800-273-8255.
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