“I got a badge at that camp from housing that said Future Seminole. I kept that badge in my room over all of these years.” – Kaylee Goodpaster
Kaylee Goodpaster Signs with the Noles
The Florida State Seminoles softball program is a special one. I have felt the energy at JoAnne Graf Field many times, and when that place is full, both inside the stadium and across the street at Spirit Way Garage, it becomes one of the best environments anywhere in the softball world.
Last week, Kaylee Goodpaster made her commitment official by signing with Florida State as part of a talented incoming class. For Kaylee, this moment has been years in the making. Everything began when she moved to Panama City at nine years old. That is when she first discovered Seminoles softball, and her interest locked in immediately.
“When we moved to Panama City when I was 9, I got to discover Florida State Softball. We started by going to a game or two because it was so close. The first year we went to some games, FSU hosted a Regional and Super Regional and I was able to attend. It was crazy to me at the time to have to wait in line for hours before the game just to get in and find a good seat,” Kaylee said.
The fun and family atmosphere caught her attention right away. The next summer she attended a Junior Noles camp, and that is when the idea began to grow.
“I got a badge at that camp from housing that said Future Seminole. I kept that badge in my room over all of these years. I will never forget my first camp because some of the players and coaches worked the camp. I had such a blast. I continued to go to more camps and games over the next few years and learned more and more about the program. It developed into a love for the program and formed a dream to want to eventually play for FSU.”
Playing for Florida State means everything to Kaylee. It is a place where the word family is lived out every single day. Plenty of programs talk about family and culture, but in Tallahassee those words carry real weight.
“Being able to play for FSU means so much to me. Coach Alameda has created a culture that really starts with family. They do not just say we are a family. When you are there you actually feel like family. When I was injured and out for a whole year, the FSU coaches checked in with my travel coach on how I was doing. That kindness meant the world to me because they showed me that they cared about me as a person, not just as a softball player,” Kaylee said.
“FSU is very focused on player development and I felt like the conversations with them after September 1st were focused on me and how they could develop me and make me a better person and player rather than what I could do for them.”
When asked who in the FSU family has inspired her, Kaylee did not hesitate. The name Jessi Warren was the clear answer. Kaylee met Warren at a camp years ago where Warren served as one of the instructors.
“Jessi has been an inspiration to my journey in that when I was at FSU camps the coaches would always say that they saw her at a camp one day and she was hitting balls off of the scoreboard, so they became interested in recruiting her. I related to her in a lot of ways as she was such a powerful hitter,” Kaylee said.
Warren is loved by Seminole fans for her play and for the type of person she is. I have met her myself, and she greets you with a smile and makes you feel like she’s known you.
“She was always so super nice and supportive to me every time I saw her. When she left FSU and went to USSSA Pride, I went to a few clinics there as well and she always talked to me and remembered who I was,” Kaylee said. “At a USSSA All American event when I was like eleven years old, she coached one of the teams I was on and she was in our dugout. She took a picture with me and then she posted it on her Instagram.”
“After I committed to FSU, she reached out to me on X and congratulated me and it meant so much to me that she actually knew who I was and remembered me. It again just makes you feel like family and I am so excited to get to be a part of it in the future.”
Much like Warren, Kaylee brings power and strong defensive ability. I saw that power for myself a little more than a week ago when she hit three home runs in three straight at bats. As easy as she makes it look, she is the first to point out how much work it took, especially after her back injury.
“I have worked extremely hard, especially after my back injury, on changing my swing to a new, healthier motion for me to prevent future injuries. It took me many months and a lot of frustration to change my swing completely and with the help of my hitting coach Cam Byars, I was able to make the transition,” she said.
Kaylee credits Byars for putting in the time and care to help her develop the right mechanics. Her own drive has pushed her every step of the way.
“The preparation takes a lot of time outside of normal team or travel practices. It takes constant focus. I think that preparation also brings confidence and I know that when I walk up to the plate and face a live pitcher the only thing I have up there is my confidence in myself,” she said.
“I try to win every pitch. I am very competitive and I like to win and breaking it down to single pitches helps me to focus on the present and not dwelling on the past outcomes. It allows me to quickly reset even if I lose a pitch to focus on the next one. No matter what happens, it only takes one pitch. I think this mindset helps me reduce any anxiety and helps me build my confidence.”
Kaylee is a two time PGF National Champion and one of the top players in Florida and across the national scene. Hard work is nothing new to her. The schedule is demanding, but she welcomes it.
“I believe that travel ball has helped me become a better athlete because it is very competitive. Over the years, I have always wanted to play at the highest level that I could play at because it challenges me to get better. Softball is definitely a game of failure. Learning and growing from the failure sort of refine you and make the successful times feel so much more rewarding,” she said.
“I have gotten the opportunity to win two PGF National Championships and the memories that I have of that will be something I will cherish. When you can see all of your hard work pay off in such a high pressure environment, it is a really great feeling.”
School ball has brought its own lessons and at a different pace. High school ball at North Bay Haven has been a complete experience for Goodpaster.
“When I started playing varsity softball in the sixth grade, the program I played for was basically brand new. We only had a couple of girls each year that even played any level of travel ball, even local. I learned a lot of different lessons over those years in leadership and patience as the girls who had not played a lot learned and grew at their own pace.”
Patience and persistence eventually paid off, as the Buccaneers made it to the state championship game last season.
“Fast forward to my junior year and my team made it to the state championship game. Watching a program develop and helping other girls learn to love the game of softball has been a rewarding experience. It was a lot of sweat and tears to get there, but every amount of sacrifice was worth it to experience our community rooting for us during our state tournament run.”
Kaylee Goodpaster is now ready to begin her journey in Garnet and Gold. Her commitment and signing feel as genuine as anything you will find in the sport. She is stepping into a dream that has lived inside her for years, and now she is ready to chase it with everything she has.
“As far as what I feel like I bring to FSU, I would say I am a true power hitter with good defensive instincts in the outfield. I feel like I am a pretty all around player and have a high IQ for the game. I have been fortunate enough to have some great coaches and mentors throughout my journey that I feel have prepared me for this next step. What I can always promise is that I will always get after it and work as hard as I can. I am a very competitive person and I hate to lose, so I am going to go all out to ensure I continue the FSU legacy.”
She carries the mindset and the work ethic that match exactly what Florida State softball stands for. The vision that began with trips to JoAnne Graf Field as a nine year old is now turning into the next chapter of her life, and Kaylee Goodpaster is ready to make the most of every moment ahead.
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