Bobcats' Abby Mann to attend the University of Findlay

CAMBRIDGE — Senior Abby Mann is putting the finishing touches on a four year standout career for the Cambridge High softball program.

Along with her hard work on the softball diamond, Mann has put in as much or more in the classroom. Mann already has a specific game plan moving forward once she leaves Cambridge High this spring and heads off to college.

Mann, the daughter of Chad and Jennifer Mann, plans to keep up that workload as she continues her softball career at the collegiate level and study animal science with the goal to become a veterinarian.

Now Mann has a destination to accomplish both of those goals, after recently signing her Letter of Intent to attend the University of Findlay next season.

"I want to get into vet school to be able to one day come back to Cambridge to open up my own large/small animal clinic," Mann said. "That's my career ambition and want to continue to play softball as well as I'm working towards my goal."

Busy workload to continue for Mann at the collegiate level

Mann feels her time at Cambridge has prepared her for the colligate level, and feels confident she is ready to accept the challenge.

"I’ve had to dedicate a lot of time to my academics as well as my athletics." Mann said. "I’ve had learn a good balance for both, while maintaining things outside school and sports. And I feel that is an important skill I will need to succeed in college."

Mann also considered West Virginia, Ohio Wesleyan and Ohio State before reaching the decision that Findlay was the right choice.

“I have a scholarship to play softball there, but softball wasn’t the deciding factor for me,” Mann said. “It was a factor. I toured campus multiple times and I really liked it, and I liked the softball program, too.

"But the main reason I chose Findlay is their animal science program. They have a huge barn facility where they house all their animals and you get many hands on experiences with them. They have one of the best animal science programs in Ohio. I also really liked their softball program and the coaching staff made me feel welcome from the first day I met them."

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Findlay offers one of the best pre-veterinary programs in the nation and features a 31,000 square foot barn, used as a classroom, which can house up to 1,200 animals. The program has about 1,700 animals including sheep, cattle, hogs and pigs.

Mann feels comfortable with the Oilers' softball program and is confident she will be able to contribute.

"The whole softball program itself has such a welcoming environment, with the coaching staff and the players," Mann said. "I’ve attended their camp and have gotten to talk to some of the players and everyone is motivated and goal oriented. I am excited and looking forward to being a part of the team."

Mann has made her mark for CHS softball program

Mann has garnered plenty of accolades' during her standout four year career for the Lady Bobcats including reeling in First Team Eastern District honors in 2021, 2022 and 2023, along with First Team All-OVAC in 2021, 2022 and 2023. She was tabbed with All-Ohio Honorable Mention recognition in 2022 and has been selected First Team Buckeye 8 in 2021, 2022 and 2023.

Mann also holds the Cambridge High School record for most strikeouts in a game with 18, and for her career has a total of 509 and counting. Offensively, she has a career batting average of .473 with 102 RBIs and 18 home runs.

"My favorite memory of my time playing at Cambridge so far is probably setting one of the school records and being able to achieve so much in my four years of being a Bobcat," Mann said. "I've enjoyed my time with my teammates and coaches. It seems like the time has went quickly, but I have lots of good memories."

Mann was also a four-year member of the volleyball team, and is a member of the National Honor Society, the Spanish Club and participated in Ohio Model United Nations.

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Thus far this softball season, Mann has pitched in 16 games, accumulating a record of 9-4. She has 172 strikeouts in 89 innings pitched. At the plate, Mann sports a .354 batting average with six home runs, four doubles and 21 RBIs for the Bobcats, who currently hold a record of 11-6.

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This article originally appeared on The Daily Jeffersonian: Senior Abby Mann closing out standout softball career for Bobcats