FROM WINDSOR TO TEAM CANADA: ABBY’S JOURNEY
Abby Findlay is quick to say she wouldn’t be where she is today without the people God placed in her life. Her softball journey has never felt like something she carried alone, and that conviction runs through every part of her story.
A Circle of Support
Abby’s family has shaped her athletic journey more than anyone. Her parents and sister spent countless hours practicing with her, both one on one and with her various teams, investing time and money into her development that she says she will always be grateful for. Traveling for softball practices and tournaments became a family effort, one Abby never takes for granted.
Her high school was just as invested. MCA worked with her through absences for athletic events and cheered her on with a passion that made her feel truly seen and loved. Her church family showed up in ways both big and small, including her pastor, who went out of his way to buy merchandise from a line the school had released bearing her name. It’s a small gesture Abby still holds onto with gratitude.
What MCA Gave Her
The teachers at MCA helped Abby stay on top of her schoolwork through the absences that came with a demanding athletic schedule. But it was a mission trip during her time at MCA that made the deepest impact, shifting how she saw the Lord and deepening her faith in a way that has stayed with her since. She’s especially grateful she attended a school where she could be open about her faith without fear of persecution, something she credits with helping her grow into someone who can now share the gospel with others.
Excellence Over Perfection
Abby has never been the strongest at time management, by her own admission. But she held onto one value throughout her education: giving her best effort in everything she did. Perfectionism was a real struggle for her, often making it hard to even start an assignment. It wasn’t until she truly understood that God calls His people to excellence, not perfection, that something shifted. She learned to be content giving her full effort to a project, even when it fell short of flawless.
Keeping prayer at the center of her days helped her manage the stress of balancing sports, school, and everyday life. Putting God first, she says, is what gave her peace in the middle of the chaos.
Her Word to Current Student Athletes
Abby’s advice to current MCA students is to work hard in everything, give all the effort you have, and hand the rest to God. She believes His plans are greater than anything a student could imagine on their own, and that He provides abundantly for those who trust Him.
Her encouragement doesn’t stop there. She reminds students that faith isn’t tested by staying comfortable, that God wants their worries brought to Him so He can give peace in return, and that reading and memorizing scripture equips them for whatever circumstance comes next. Keep going, she says. Stay in constant communication with the Lord, and trust that He’s got you, always.
Her Word to MCA Parents
To parents of athletes hoping to compete at the next level, Abby’s advice is practical: get your kids out there. Post their stats, take video of games and practices, and get familiar with how recruiting actually works. It can be a stressful process, but she promises it’s worth it.
More than anything, she encourages parents to remind their kids why they’re doing it in the first place: to work hard, yes, but above all, to glorify and trust God in everything. Prayer, she says, is the most powerful thing a parent can offer.
Abby is one of many MCA alumni carrying what she learned as a Panther into college softball and beyond.
