Quick Chat: Sydney Kuma

By John Frierson
Staff Writer

Sydney Kuma is a long way from home. A native of Fresno, Calif., the Georgia softball junior is going to college about as far from home as she could within the continental United States. Kuma wanted the experience of being off on her own, and she said becoming a Bulldog is one of the best decisions she's ever made.

Heading into Wednesday night's game against Furman, the second baseman, a starter in the infield since her freshman season, is second on the team with a .389 batting average. Kuma's 12 home runs are third-most on a slugging squad that features seven players with at least eight homers, including five with 10 or more, and her on-base percentage of .490 is tied for the team lead.

During a Quick Chat before practice Tuesday, Kuma talked about being away from home, what made her first home run as a Bulldog extra special, her favorite foods, and much more. Here's some of what she had to say:

Frierson: What is it like to be at this point in the season, when you're 40-plus games into the schedule? Do you sometimes have to psych yourself up for games at this point?

Kuma: At this point in the season, everyone's tired, everyone's bodies hurt, and I really have to remind myself to take my own time and give myself time outside of softball so I just don't lose myself in softball.

I definitely still get excited for each and every game. I get a little nervous in my stomach, I still get the butterflies, and I think that's where I find the joy. If I didn't do that, then I wouldn't have much purpose in playing the game.

Frierson: What do you do to get away from softball and school?

Kuma: I call them "me days" and I'll go get my nails done or go shopping, and I really like cleaning. When I clean it clears my mind. I like to paint, too — painting helps. It helps distract me from everything.

Frierson: What do you paint?

Kuma: I don't know. I just put different colors on a board and I'll brush it on. I just paint [laughs] and it's relaxing to me. And I need that, especially during the season when I'm getting so frustrated sometimes during games, like if I don't have my best game. Sometimes I need to get out of that and find something to help relax me and find peace.

Frierson: Do you remember your first home run for Georgia (against Central Michigan on Feb. 22, 2020)?

Kuma: Yes, I do! It was my dad's birthday. My family jokes about it but I always hit home runs on my family's birthdays. When my grandpa had come here this season, I hit a home run on his birthday.

I'll never forget my first home run because it was on my dad's birthday. I wasn't really trying to hit a home run, it was just kind of a shocker to me that I hit it on his birthday, and then I hit my first grand slam on my birthday.

It's obviously a thrill because once you hit it out and you're running around the bases, you just feel so much joy. And then you see your teammates in the dugout going crazy — it's just a thrilling moment.

Frierson: That home-run trot in softball and baseball seems like one of the best moments in sports. There aren't many things like that in other sports, when you do something thrilling and you have a little time to soak it in.

Kuma: That's what I like out of all of it. Once I round the bases, it brings me so much joy seeing my team in the dugout happy for me. And it brings me even more happiness that they're happy for me, if that makes sense. It's way different than any other sport — in softball and baseball, we get to have that moment to ourselves; we get to live through that moment for a good while as we round the bases.

Frierson: Is there one home run in your life that stands out above all the others?

Kuma: I would say when we played Alabama (on April 2) this season, hitting the home run off of Montana (Fouts). I was struggling, I was in my head in my at-bats, but once I hit it, I just got so excited because it felt like my work paid off. I knew what she was going to throw me and I went with what my gut was telling me.

My team, again, was so happy for me when I was rounding the bases. It was just that hype kind of feeling. That was definitely my best one from this season.

Frierson: What's something you could eat every day and never get tired of it?

Kuma: Chicken wings and fries. I'm always talking about chicken wings and fries because I could eat it every single day [laughs]. It's so good — barbecue wings, too. It's probably not the healthiest choice, but in the fall I would go to American Deli and get their chicken wings and fries. Mmmm. It's the best thing.

Frierson: How are you in the kitchen?

Kuma: I'm good in the kitchen. My grandma taught me a lot about cooking. Whenever I go home, I'm always in the kitchen with her cooking. It was good because when I came out here, I knew what to do. I love my grammy for that because she taught me so much.

Frierson: Has the experience of coming across the country to go to Georgia been about what you expected?

Kuma: It was a huge challenge at first. When I first got here I was homesick and I went home a lot freshman year, but now, I like the distance. I was able to build myself as a woman, by myself. I still talk to my parents every single day but I like living here. And I told my mom, I'm not going back home once I graduate. I'm going to stay in Georgia because it's just so much better here in Georgia.

I know there's a big difference, like with the distance and all that, but I think this was my best decision. Getting out of California and trying to explore new things, it built me as a person.

(This Q&A was lightly edited for length and clarity.)

Assistant Sports Communications Director John Frierson is the staff writer for the UGA Athletic Association and curator of the ITA Men's Tennis Hall of Fame. You can find his work at: Frierson Files. He's also on Twitter: @FriersonFiles and @ITAHallofFame.

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