​Gianna Carideo is in her second season with the Tennessee Fury. The catcher/corner committed to Washington this past January, and will be leaving SEC country for the Pac-12 at the end of her senior year in 2016. 

Get to know more about Gianna and watch her and her Tennessee Fury LIVE this weekend at the Scenic City Fall Tournament! 

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Walk us through your recruiting process with Washington.
It started last fall when I had just begun playing with the Fury. I hadn't received a lot of looks yet, but I was having a really good fall. One of our pitchers, who I caught, was being recruited by Washington. The staff came to watch her and got some video of both of us. They said they had already filled out their class for 2016, but they liked what they saw in me and invited both my pitcher and me to their winter camp in January of 2015. They made me an offer a week or two after the camp and I accepted!

Why did you choose Washington, a Pac-12 school, when you live in the heart of SEC country?
I'm originally from Tampa, Florida but have moved around quite a bit, so I'm used to it. Assistant Coach Ashley Andrews used to be my catching instructor so when I visited a met with her again, Washington felt like home. 

What are you most excited about for college?
Competing at that high level and having the opportunity to compete for a national championship. Seeing the past success of Washington and their having been competitive every year really makes me excited to play for them. 

What do you do best on the field?
I think I communicate really well. I like to know that I have command of my field. It's nice because we're all so relaxed and we respect each other, so I know I can get on a teammate and have her take it the right way. 

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What do you need to work on to improve as a player?
I would have to say my arm strength. I've been doing an arm strengthening program that's been reinforcing good mechanics which is something I've wanted to focus on. It's really helped with decreasing pain and soreness in my arm as well. What's been really cool is that it has helped a lot with velocity. My pop time has gone from mid 1.8 to below 1.8. 

What's been your best softball experience so far?
I played for the South Tampa Little League team that won the Little League World Series in Seattle. We beat the host team 10-1. It's crazy because it was my first time to visit Seattle, and I told my parents that one day I would find myself back in Seattle and now I'm going to play for Washington!

The Scenic City Fall Tournament is in your backyard, but what's been your favorite place to travel to for softball?
I would have to say the Colorado Sparkler. The competition was unlike anything else. You play against the biggest names in club softball. Plus, I enjoy seeing future Washington teammates and playing against future Pac-12 talent.

What are you and your team most looking forward to at the Scenic City Fall Tournament this weekend?
I think just playing together and getting ready for the summer. We have a couple new girls on the team, so it'll be good experience to play with each other. I'm also looking forward to playing some big names teams that will be there. 

Do you have a favorite softball player?
Yes, since I'm going to Washington, it was really cool to see Kylee Lahners go through her senior year. Her attitude on the field and approach to the game is awesome. I actually got to see her play a pro game [with the Dallas Charge] while I was out in Colorado.

What are some of your hobbies outside of softball?
Well, softball does take up a lot of my time, but I really like to read and go hiking with my friends and listen to music. Spending time with my family is also really important to me, and we're a pretty athletic family so we're outdoors a lot. 

What do you plan to study in college?
I am majoring in Environmental Engineering. Washington has one of the best engineering programs in the country so I'm really excited!