Intensity is not always an early indication of proficiency with any given task, as Tessa Juniver has learned with a more relaxed approach in the field, at the plate, and in life during her tenure as a decorated North Branford High School student-athlete.

Tessa, a two-sport athlete and now Class of 2023 graduate for North Branford, began softball in first grade before bounding over to basketball in fifth. After leading the T-birds on the basketball court as a captain and small forward in the winter, Tessa easily transitioned success to the spring, as the softball right fielder and also squad captain earned Second Team All-Shoreline honors with a .432 batting average, 1.157 on-base plus slugging percentage, roping in 24 RBI, three doubles, three triples, and four home runs and helped North Branford claim its eighth consecutive Shoreline Conference title and reach the Class S State Tournament semifinals.

“With softball, I loved the idea of it being fun and a game I love. It has given me a lot of friends I am still close with. It is not something I see as stressful or something to worry about,” says Tessa. “For me, it has been about just going out there, having fun, and not putting pressure on myself. I found out that the more relaxed I am, the more successful I am. I just go out there and do what I have to do.”

With her tension eased, Tessa increased her torque with the bat in her hand by just being a contact hitter and picking up her speed and swiftness in the field. She explains that failure is unavoidable in softball, so it is best to welcome it and improve upon it.

“With my batting in general, I just have hit more in general. I just look to put the ball in play. Defensively, I got a lot faster this year and covered more ground in the outfield,” Tessa says. “I look at failure as a way to be successful; you can’t grow if you do not fail. It is OK to fail, especially in softball.”

Speaking further on the defensive front while she patrolled the grass for the T-birds, Tessa proclaims it could be daunting being the final stopper to swat aside any opposing offensive worries, though making the threat-stopping plays makes it worthwhile.

“The outfield can be tough because you are thought of as the backup to the infield and cannot let anything get past you,” says Tessa. “You are backing each other up in the outfield, and you are the last resort out there, but it is always nice to make the big plays.”

As a multi-team captain, Tessa projected out a sense of what it takes to get the job done on the court and the field. She additionally took her leadership duties a step further in standing as a face for North Branford in its conference and community.

“It was great and fun being a captain. I like to lead by example, and being a captain challenged me to demonstrate good qualities to the rest of the team,” says Tessa. “I also saw myself representing the school in the Shoreline Conference and the town. Being captain made me want to be a better person with so many people looking up to me.”

North Branford softball skipper Nick DeLizio adds that while Tessa always has ice water in her veins in any high-stakes moment, she is the ideal ambassador for the T-birds’ program as a consummate student, player, and professional.

“Tessa is the epitome of a student-athlete who is well respected by all her teachers, classmates, and administrators,” says DeLizio. “Her humility is second to none; she always puts the team above herself. One thing that stands out to me is her ability to handle pressure situations. I don’t think I’ve ever coached someone who is as even-keeled as Tessa. She doesn’t ride the highs or lows of her performances. She can handle the big moments and doesn’t let her emotions get the best of her. I am so blessed to watch Tessa grow as a person during her time on the field, in the classroom, and in the community. She fully represents what North Branford softball is about.”

As the T-birds continued their dynastic run in 2023 with their eighth consecutive conference crown, Tessa reflects that it was due in large part to equally committed coaches and players that stayed dedicated to their craft year-round.

“We were really a close team, and we had each other’s backs through the good and the bad,” Tessa says. “We also had a lot of talent on our teams, too. We had many players who play travel and AAU softball in the offseason. Coach DeLizio also put in a lot of work behind the scenes with planning and getting the best out of us.”

As she moves towards her future, Tessa is maintaining her laid-back mindset when it comes to her career choices. Still, as she now harkens back to her time as a T-bird, she explains that it was a four-year campaign that taught her a great deal about determination, drive, desire and persistence.

“In the future, I will stick with the idea of doing what you love, because I saw how successful you can be when you do something you love,” says Tessa. “Playing for North Branford has definitely been really fun for me. I made a lot of memories, and I built strong character, too. I learned you have to work hard and then you will get the results you want to see. It also helped me with my work ethic with school and sports. It overall made me a better person, especially through my responsibilities as a captain.”