A freshman at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford, Frank is winding down her first college softball season. This, after playing for Pitt-Brad’s Division III women’s soccer team in the fall.

“When I was deciding which college to attend, I was looking for one that would give me the opportunity to play soccer,” said Frank, a 2024 Eisenhower High School graduate who is the daughter of Kenny and Tina Frank. “I reached out to the soccer coach and was able to spend an entire day with some of the current players and learn more about the program. After talking with my parents, I decided to sign a letter of intent to play soccer for Pitt-Bradford. I did have thoughts of playing softball as well, but I was worried about the ability to balance two sports and the commitment that comes with that, along with all my college courses and studies. As my first successful soccer season and semester was winding down, I again thought of playing softball. I was able to manage my first semester and thought I could handle playing softball as well. I decided to reach out to the softball coach and she let me try out for the team. I was able to make the team. My first softball season and second college semester is almost complete. I am proud of what I have been able to accomplish academically and athletically my first year at Pitt-Bradford.”

It comes as absolutely no surprise to anyone that knows Payton well.

“Since Payton was little, she has always been a driven person, whether it be at school or in sports,” said her mother, Tina. “She has a very competitive nature and work ethic. To be honest, Payton has been dual-sporting since she was 5 years old. She competed in gymnastics year-round while playing soccer and softball. She has always been good at time management with her busy schedule with school, sports, and work. When she said she was going to play soccer in college, we were 100% behind her. This driven, young woman, who has a heart of gold, couldn’t have made us any prouder. She finished her first semester on the Dean’s List and started her entire first soccer season at Pitt-Bradford. She just received an AMCC Academic All-Conference Award for soccer and softball. We were not surprised when we got a phone call and she said, ‘mom, I’m gonna play softball this spring.’ She has played softball her whole life. To say we are proud of this young woman is an understatement. The hard work, determination, the don’t-give-up attitude, and striving for her goals no matter the challenge, will serve her well in life.”

The magic of Payton’s attitude is that it serves others well, too.

“From the moment I saw Payton compete, I knew she was built differently,” said her Panthers women’s soccer coach, Lorenzo Rodriguez. “Her speed and athleticism are unmatched, (and) along with her competitive drive set her apart instantly. Payton brings an explosive energy to both teams that elevates everyone; whether she’s sprinting past defenders or chasing down a loose ball, she plays with relentless effort and heart. Payton is one to never back down from a challenge and is always looking to step outside her comfort zone to improve on every aspect of her game. What really stands out with Payton is who she is beyond the game. She is very uplifting, fun, and incredibly genuine and a difference-maker in every sense, and we’re incredibly lucky to have her as a part of the women’s soccer team.”

Payton’s love of sports started even before soccer and softball.

“My earliest memory of youth sports is competing in gymnastics,” said Payton. “This is where I learned my love for competition. My fondest memories also come from gymnastics. I met and made many friends that remain today. I remember our Christmas sleepovers we would have at the YMCA where we would all just mess around and hang out with each other for 24 hours. Gymnastics is where I got the foundation for the rest of the sports I chose to compete in.

“Beginning at the age of 5, I have competed in gymnastics, soccer, softball, track, volleyball, and bowling,” she added. “The reason it came down to soccer is because I have always loved that sport. The team aspect of soccer and the competitive level of play is what drew me to it. As far as softball is concerned, it is a little different. Softball has always been more sentimental because my foundation of knowledge about this sport came from me and my dad practicing out in the backyard. When I began playing travel softball, and softball in high school, it became more about the competition.”

That competition, and the challenges that come with each practice and game, are what motivate Payton, who plays multiple defensive positions in soccer and outfield in softball.

“To stay competitive, you have to constantly be working and learning to achieve success,” said Payton. “Competing in sports pushes you past your limits to a place you wouldn’t go without someone or something pushing you. I have always loved competing, whether it was the pacer test in gym class, racing someone, or winning games.”

A perfect example: challenged with playing offense for the first time for Pitt-Bradford, Payton scored three goals — her only three on the season — in September in a 9-0 win over Keystone College. That’s about as many as she scored in all of high school as center back on defense.

“I definitely think playing with boys in sports was extremely helpful,” said Payton of coed play in her youth. “Being a competitive person, I refused to let them beat me. It pushed me to work even harder at practice, and push myself even further since boys are just stronger and faster than girls. At that time, I didn’t really know that, so I just worked harder because I knew I wanted to beat them.

“All the sports I have played, I have loved for different reasons, whether it be the team I am a part of or just the competitive aspect of them,” she added. “But for soccer, I love how you have to not only be competitive and physically strong, but you also have to be able to handle the game mentally. It makes it challenging, but very rewarding, when you play the game the right way and your team works well together. It is one of the best feelings ever. For softball, I love all that technique and skill that you have to learn for this game. The game is also mentally difficult. While all this might sound like a lot of hard work, and it is, that’s what I love about it. These sports push me and challenge me in ways that I never would have been capable of without them, and that is the reason I have become the person I am today.”

She’s juggling two NCAA sports “as a forensic science major with a concentration in biology.

“I love that I can get a degree from a large university with the reputation of Pitt while attending the university in a smaller community,” said Frank, who graduated Magna Cum Laude and was president of the National Honor Society while at Eisenhower High School. “The best thing about Pitt-Bradford is the small-school atmosphere. It makes it easy to get help from professors and you get to really know people on campus. The people on campus are so welcoming and have made the transition super easy. These are some of the best people I have ever met, and I am so glad to be a student-athlete here. I wouldn’t choose to go anywhere else. Only being an hour away from home is far enough to be independent, but close enough that my parents can still come and watch my games, and I can go home from time to time when my schedule allows.

“Without my family, there is no way I would have played or stuck with the sports that I play now,” she added. “Since they were always pushing me and involving me in sports, even though there were definitely days that I didn’t want to, they pushed me to go so I could build not only skills in sports but life skills as well. They were always there for me and helping me, whether it be talking me through how to fix what happened in a game to working with me in the backyard, and I have no idea where I would be without them always being there for me.”

Pitt-Bradford head softball coach Tina Phillips said Payton “is slowly adjusting to playing at the next level.”

“I didn’t know what to expect, honestly,” said Phillips. “She has offered some speed to our lineup and range in the outfield. She is a coachable player and a good addition to our team both on and off the field.”

“The biggest difference for me is the talent and pace of play,” explained Frank of college sports. “Even though high school sports require skill and are very fast-paced, college athletics is another level. Another difference was the mandatory 6 a.m. practices before classes each day, and the physical training in college that wasn’t required in high school. Another difference is that the teams in college are more family-orientated. Even if everyone doesn’t get along, they will always be there for you and give you a place to go, if you need something.

“My life outside of sports is about as busy as it is with sports — with studying for school, working, going hunting, baking, and hanging out with my friends,” she added. “Whether we are just hanging out and watching a movie or evening trips to Dairy Queen, there is just always something going on. There has been so much advice that I have been given from coaches, my parents, and other mentors over the years and I wouldn’t be where I am today without it, but what has really stuck with me is that, hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard.”

While her softball stats include a lot of college firsts, the memories have been flooding in.

“I think I will be most proud of always pushing myself in sports and never giving up even when it wasn’t easy,” said Payton. “As far as stories go, there are a lot of them. The bus rides in high school were always fun. Flipping over the fence in the outfield to stopping the game-winning goal would be just a few. For Pitt-Bradford, there would definitely be more. Just meeting all the people here, scoring my first hat trick, and the softball team’s trip to California. I have a lot of memories in just my first year at Pitt.”