We continued our Mojo Alumni Zoom series on Monday night with Ashtyn Danley. This was the second call in our Alumni Zoom series, and we had previously talked to Alabama Star Kali Heivilin. Ashtyn is a former Mojo player now making waves at the collegiate level. She shared valuable insights about her journey, college experience, and the lessons she’s learned along the way.
From Mojo to Florida State: Ashtyn’s Journey
Ashtyn’s softball journey began with her father’s team before eventually joining the Tennessee Mojo organization. During our discussion, she emphasized how critical it is to maintain a healthy player-coach relationship and how this foundation has impacted her development throughout her career.
When discussing her recruiting process, Ashtyn highlighted the importance of finding a school that aligns with your personal values and culture. For her, Florida State’s supportive environment and focus on personal growth made it the perfect fit. This cultural alignment has clearly paid dividends, as Ashtyn continues to thrive both on and off the field.
The Sophomore Experience: Growing in Confidence
One of the most insightful portions of our conversation centered around Ashtyn’s transition from freshman to sophomore year. She noted a significant decrease in stress and a corresponding increase in confidence as she’s settled into collegiate athletics.
“Softball and failure don’t define a person,” Ashtyn shared, emphasizing that giving your all each day is what truly matters, even when facing setbacks. This perspective has helped her develop a resilient pitching mentality against tough competition, focusing on confidence in her abilities and treating each pitch as a personal challenge to the batter.
Balancing Academics and Athletics
As a business management major, Ashtyn candidly discussed the challenges of balancing academic demands with her athletic commitments. She described her journey from having mandatory study hall as a freshman to independently managing her time as a sophomore—a transition that proved challenging but ultimately rewarding.
Her typical day varies between fall and spring semesters, filled with classes, workouts, and games. Ashtyn emphasized the growth she’s experienced in time management, particularly in learning to complete assignments early and maintaining a healthy balance between socializing and studying.
Training Philosophy: Quality Over Quantity
When discussing her training approach, Ashtyn advocated strongly for quality over quantity in practice sessions. She recommends focused work periods of 20-30 minutes rather than longer, less productive sessions. This approach has served her well, especially as she balances roles as both a pitcher and hitter—a dual position that requires extra work but allows her to contribute to her team in multiple ways.
For pitchers specifically, Ashtyn highlighted the importance of rest and recovery in their training regimen.
Mental Game Strategies
Perhaps most valuable for our current Mojo players were Ashtyn’s insights into managing nerves and anxiety during high-pressure situations. She works closely with Florida State’s mental performance coach, Ellie Cooper, on visualization techniques and mental exercises.
One particularly powerful mindset shift Ashtyn recommended was reframing high-pressure situations as exciting opportunities rather than stressful events. She also shared specific techniques including breath work and visualization that have helped her maintain composure on the mound.
Looking Ahead: The 2025 Season
Ashtyn expressed excitement about Florida State’s potential this season, despite facing tough competition from teams like Oklahoma State and Texas A&M. She spoke positively about the team’s freshman pitcher, Jazzy, who has shown tremendous potential despite some early-season challenges.
The unpredictability of this season has been notable, with mid-conference teams performing well against top-ranked opponents, making for an exciting road ahead as the Seminoles pursue postseason success.
Advice for Aspiring College Athletes
Throughout our conversation, Ashtyn offered valuable advice for young players with collegiate aspirations:
- Participate in multiple sports during high school to develop different athletic skills and prevent burnout
- When visiting colleges, ask current players about their experiences balancing academics and athletics
- Focus on finding a school with a culture that resonates with your personal values
- Embrace the process of becoming great, rather than focusing solely on outcomes
- Learn to view failure as a learning opportunity rather than a definition of your worth
A Strong Mojo Foundation
Ashtyn’s success at Florida State is a testament to the strong foundation she built during her time with Tennessee Mojo. Her journey exemplifies our organization’s commitment to developing not just skilled athletes, but well-rounded individuals prepared for success at the next level.
We’re grateful to Ashtyn for taking the time to share her experiences with our current players, and we look forward to watching her continued success with the Seminoles.
The Tennessee Mojo organization will continue hosting alumni series calls to provide insights and advice to current players. Stay tuned for announcements about our next featured alumni!