Before Paige Ochoa came to Penn State, she didn’t know anything about THON. Now, with club softball, Ochoa is carrying on the legacy of her friend and former teammate Evelyn Andrews, who lost her battle with leukemia four years ago.

Ochoa and Andrews grew up in the same town, both falling in love with softball at a young age. Andrews was two years older than her, so they never really played together until high school, but that didn’t diminish Andrews’ impact on Ochoa.

“She was the most well-known player in the town because of not just her softball skills but just her work ethic and the way that she impacted players and her teammates on and off the field,” Ochoa said. “During high school is when I really got to know her, and I started personally feeling that impact of her and her love for the game, love for her teammates, love for just life in general.”

As a direct recipient of Andrews’ leadership, the initial diagnosis hit fairly hard for Ochoa. Ochoa said Andrews was someone who seemed so untouchable and that nothing could affect her. Even if she had a bad game, she would be right back in the dugout cheering on the players and always pushing them to be better.

Even throughout her treatments, Andrews stayed with the team. Her support never wavered even when she couldn’t play anymore. She received a scholarship to play Division I softball at Humboldt State, and even though she couldn’t take part in the games, she was a part of the team and still kept her love for softball alive through practice for two years.

After an injury during practice, Andrews went to the hospital, and it was discovered her cancer returned. In February 2020, Andrews passed away when Ochoa was a senior in high school.

The whole town came together to honor Andrews, hosting a memorial service at the high school full of everyone Andrews had touched within softball and beyond. Ochoa said the service was so moving, and she truly had no words to even describe it.

From that moment on for Ochoa, playing softball became a way to continue playing for Andrews and her legacy. Ochoa didn’t get to truly finish out her high school career as her senior season was cut short because of COVID-19. But as she continues her career through Penn State club softball, she carries on the love of something so dear to her and the memory of Andrews.

“Being able to finish out a career, both for myself and then for Ev, it’s just really meaningful,” Ochoa said. “It just like puts everything really into perspective of how quickly something that you love so much can be taken from you. Just not taking anything for granted because things can so quickly change.”

While Ochoa has been preserving Andrews’ memory and dedication since coming to Penn State, she entered as a freshman unaware of what THON was, but her moment of enlightenment came during the THON 2022’s Final Four during her sophomore year. She was left in disbelief at how she went so long not knowing about THON.

The family stories are what Ochoa values the most and the ability to see them and their impact puts everything into perspective for why she THONs.

As she got involved in committees and put more time and effort into THON, Ochoa realized she could reach that extra push and dance on the floor as a a part of a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. When her friend told her at her fall formal she would be dancing, Ochoa was left speechless.

“It was the best thing she could have said to me at any point in my life,” she said. “I just honestly was speechless. The teammate that I’m dancing with is literally my best friend. The fact that both of us get to do it together is even more meaningful that we’ll be there together. It was really awesome.”

Over the 46 hours, Ochoa is excited to see the families and kids, especially her THON child, Hailey, and be there in support of them all.