Softball. Basketball. Volleyball. Horseback riding. 

Kylie Bulinski, star softball and volleyball player, started her sports career by riding horses.

“I’ve always grown up with horses. My mom has always grown up with them. It’s been a big part of my life,” said Bulinski.

Horseback riding and racing influences who Bulinski is today. It shows how she has grown up and how far she has come with being motivated, hardworking and dedicated to her athletic abilities. Although horseback riding is no longer a part Bulinski’s life, she is now carrying those attributes into softball, the reason she stopped riding so many years ago.

“It is the middle of winter and I still cannot wait for softball season. I mean I count down the days until it starts,” said Bulinski.

Bulinski’s softball career has seen a lot of major accomplishments over eight years.

“My favorite sports memory was during softball NVLs. I think about it every day. I hit a walk-off,” said Bulinski.

At the end of the NVL championships for softball in 2021, Bulinski hit an out of the park homerun. To her, the whole experience was like a movie because people in the stands were coming and congratulating her after the game.

“It was so amazing that I only remember the feeling.”

The hit was one of Bulinski’s proudest moments; however, she also considers being recruited onto the University of Rhode Island’s softball team a huge accomplishment as well.

“My proudest moment was working the eight years of my life to play in college and finally getting the opportunity,” said Bulinski. Not only has Bulinski had amazing success in softball, she is also a part of the Woodland Volleyball team. She recently made All-State for her Volleyball performance.

“I worked so hard playing softball,” said Bulinski. “Volleyball was just another fun thing to do to basically stay in shape. I never expected to be named All-State or captain.”

Because she never expected them, the accomplishments felt amazing to her. She considers volleyball a relaxing break from softball. This way, she can do something different and experience different activities. Even though it is a relaxing break to her, Bulinski still believes volleyball to be extremely enjoyable.

Becoming captain for volleyball and softball was very motivational for Bulinski. She knew there were people looking up to her, especially her teammates. It pushes her to not give up because the people around her will reflect how she acts.

Another big motivator for Bulinski is her family.

“The credit goes to [my family] for driving me everywhere, to camps and everything but knowing that no matter what I chose, whether to play or not play a sport or choose another one to play, I know they’ll always have my back,” said Bulinski.

Bulinksi knows her biological family and her sports family will always be there for her through future decisions and sports injuries.

Starting with softball, Bulinski has broken two fingers swinging a bat and getting hit, and also dislocated her knee. In volleyball, Bulinski broke her thumb. And while playing basketball, Bulinski dislocated her knee. Including all of these, Bulinski also suffers from everyday injuries like back and knee problems.

Due to taking the time to heal her injuries and preparing for college softball, Bulinski has decided to stop playing basketball for her senior year. Bulinski started her freshman, sophomore, and junior year playing volleyball, softball, and basketball, but has decided to just continue softball and volleyball in her senior year.

“There were multiple reasons that went into [me leaving],” said Bulinski. “I am going to be starting work, I play softball during the winter, and I did not want to lose my scholarship.”

Bulinski has excelled in many sports from horseback riding to softball. The three words she would use to describe herself come from the impact of her horseback riding career: motivated, hardworking and dedicated.