PARKERSBURG — Paige Winans, a softball player at Parkersburg South High School, has signed on to play for Salem University. “I feel comfortable there. I like all the players and I like the coach a lot.” said Winans, ” And it’s just how he coaches and the things he does. It was good and I liked it. That’s something I’ve been taught on.” The move came as no surprise for Winans’ current high school softball coach Cindi Taylor. “Ever since I’ve known Paige she wanted to play at the next level.” said Taylor, “She played all four years of high school, she played summer ball, and she just worked really hard to get to this level.” The same sentiment can be said from Winans’ former coach, Jennifer Null. Null has seen Winans develop as an athlete over the years. From middle school to the high school level, and beyond. “The work ethic has always been there. Her drive, determination, she’s always had that.” said Null, “First one to practice. Last one to leave. Always giving you one hundred percent. I know people always say you can never always give one hundred percent, but she literally always gave everything she had.” Winans began playing softball at a very young age. Before competing in the middle school South feeder program called ‘The Little Lady Patriots’, a program facilitated by Null. It was in this program she discovered her passion for throwing the softball. One of the first individuals to identify Paige’s talent was her very own father, Robert Winans. “She started when she was about 6. She actually started before that when she followed her older brother to baseball games and just thrown the ball.” said the elder Winans. “And you could see that she had a little bit of talent. She could throw the ball better than most at that age.” Paige’s college search ended up being a very personal process. She was looking for a team that made her feel welcome. A small group of schools made it throgh her selection research where Salem stood out above all the rest. SIU was the place Winans felt the most at home. “It wasn’t really a long process but I had another school I was looking at” Paige said. “And then I kind of did the pros and cons, and I really liked the school way more. I felt comfortable, so I picked Salem.” Winans is a young athlete who knows what direction she wants to go with her softball career. Another key factor for her college decision was looking for the major she wanted to study. “I’m going to do physical education and science education.” Winan said, “Physical Education is going to be K-Adult and then my science education is going to be sixth through eighth grade.” Paige is known by her coaches and teammates as a player who can play at any position in the outfield and someone who can easily adapt to circumstances in games. “She’s a natural born leader and I’m glad to see her progress and move onto the next level.” said Null, “When they weren’t with us practicing she’d be out hitting balls. The choice wasn’t led by her dad, it’s because that’s what she wanted to do. That was her goal. She’s the one who initiates. She’s the one who’s always had that. It’s good to see her come to this level, and be committed to a school. We knew it would happen.” She will begin her time as a Tiger this upcoming fall season.