Catching Up With Florida Star Charla Echols

Charla Echols was one of the premier college softball transfer targets during last summer’s transfer season. After an impressive freshman campaign at Michigan State, Echols transferred to Florida to continue her college softball career and search for a national title.

Although COVID-19 cut the beginning of her time in Gainesville short, Echols' quick start is one reason for optimism for the Gators over the next couple of years.

See below for Softball America's conversation with Echols about her college softball career.

Softball America: What have you been doing to pass the time recently?

Charla Echols: Lately I’ve been doing a lot more softball-related things than I had been before because we’re getting closer to going back. I’ve been going to the field a lot.

SA: What was your biggest reason for choosing Florida during your transfer process?

CE: I really wanted to move back closer to home in Georgia. It’s also cold almost year-round back in Michigan and I missed the weather in the South.

SA: What makes Florida special?

CE: The coaches. I love my coaches and they know so much about softball. They care about you more than just being an athlete. I took my visit and I believe I committed just three days after. It wasn’t really a hard decision at all.

SA: How easy of a transition was it?

CE: Florida made it really easy for me. The other girls were very welcoming. It’s an adjustment because it is Florida and there are such high standards day in and day out. After that, it was good. I felt like I really fit in there and it felt like home.

SA: What does it mean to you to play for a program like Florida?

CE: A lot of people think when you go to a school like that, that it’s all about softball. But that’s not the case. They make things really fun, but there’s also a lot of hard work. It’s all worth it because you know you’ll be competing for a national championship.

SA: Was it a difficult adjustment to play at Florida?

CE: The game is a little quicker than it is in the Big Ten. Every weekend you’re playing the best of the best. You can’t slack off.

SA: How hard was it to see your season get canceled after a promising start?

CE: It was really hard. A lot of tears were shed. I think we’re going to come back better and be just as good or even better next year.

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