How young were you when you started playing softball?
I started playing tee ball when I was 5, then baseball till I was about 7, and then started playing softball after that!
Who introduced you to it?
My neighbor who was a couple years older than me joined the local league and she introduced my family and I to softball which before then we didn't even know existed.
How long was it before you were playing with travel teams?
I only played recreational league for two years by the time I was 10 I had joined a local U12 travel team called Voodoo.
What was different about the game on a college level as opposed to when you played at Santa Fe HS in California?
College level softball is more competitive than at a high school level, most tough schools we played in HS did not play in our league or we would only see in playoffs. Also, all the girls I play with in college love the game just as much as I do which I do not think I could say at a HS level where most girls are just trying to get out of PE.
Santa Fe Springs is slightly southeast of downtown Los Angeles. How far did your high school travel for road games?
Our high school would travel to many parts of Southern California, and all over the Los Angeles, Orange County, Inland Empire and San Diego areas.
Ayon hit 13 home runs as a first-year student in 2019.
What about travel team games? Did your team play in different states?
Yes, we would travel about once every month to many local states including Oregon, Washington, Nevada, Utah, New Mexico, Colorado, and Texas. These games would be either, showcases, tournaments, or national qualifiers.
Your parents surprised you at your first college game (at Salisbury) and you homered. What do you remember about that?
All I remember was coming in from taking some cuts in outfield, when one of my teammates, Addy (Szczerba), asked me if my parents were in the stands. I brushed it off because I was definitely not expecting them; I thought my parents would come see me play my senior year (maybe) but not freshman year. Then Addy asked me to look, so I looked, saw my dad's Dodger hat, and knew it was them. I ran to them in the bleachers almost tripping because of my metal cleats. It was definitely one of the most cherished moments in my life.
Then you had a dramatic finish in your first home game at Rochester. You homered in the bottom of the seventh to give UR a 3-1 win over Cortland State. As soon as you hit it, could you tell it was gone?
I usually don't try to assume it's over (the fence) because I have misinterpreted the depth before, so I usually run hard until I see my coach tell me it is over, because the ladder of me assuming it is over and it not being (over) would result in embarrassment as well as one angry coach for not running it out.
In between at-bats, do you think about how you will approach the next at-bat if the same pitcher is in there?
I think every at bat says something about the pitcher. So I do think about my approach because I should have learned from my previous at bat what she should or should not throw me depending on how I performed the previous at bat - as well as what pitches she can and cannot throw.
When you are home, do you work with any youth programs – coaching, counseling, working behind the scenes, etc.? What do you like about doing that?
At times I return to my high school and assist with practices as well as give young girls in my community lessons in hitting and catching. It brings me joy to see them have a passion for the sport (like) I do. To be able to teach the next generation and pass off the knowledge I learned is amazing.
What led you to the University of Rochester?
I really was interested in the open curriculum it had to offer, all the amazing research opportunities, and the campus itself was just beautiful. What really sold me was when I came on my visit and experienced it in person, I was really able to see myself here for the next four years.
You are majoring in Psychology with a minor in Philosophy. How do you tie those two together?
I connect Psychology and Philosophy because on a basic level psychology is about the way human beings interact with the world around them, or in other words, their behavior. Whereas philosophy takes a deeper perspective and aims to understand our existence and who we are in reality. Which allows me to understand humans as an entirety.
Are you involved in any campus groups tied to your studies?
Yes, I take part in two groups - the Feminist Club which meets every week to discuss current issues, provide informational meetings, and sometimes fun events and activities. I am also a Neighborhood Ambassador which involves engaging in our local communities, attending community meetings, and hosting events which connect off-campus students to their local community.
