Together Forever

Taylor Liguori and Campbell Kline recall warming up together at a 2019 Maryland Softball clinic. Liguori had already committed to being a Terp, but Kline was still undecided—at least, to Liguori's knowledge, she was.  

As Liguori recalls, "Campbell came over to me, and she asked, 'So what color do you want our dorm room to be?' And I was like, 'What are you talking about?'" 

As high school seniors, Liguori and Kline had been playing softball together for a decade. And little did Liguori know at that moment, but their time as teammates was going to extend, as Kline was about to deliver some exciting news to her childhood teammate and best friend: "'Well, I just committed!'"

"It was one of those moments where your heart drops from excitement," Liguori said. "I remember giving her the biggest hug, and not crying, but tearing up a little." 

Kline interjects, "You cried, don't lie!"

As current Maryland seniors, Liguori and Kline are now close to completing their 15-year softball journey. The pair enjoys reflecting on their countless memories on and off the field.  

"When we were eight years old, we started playing for the same Maryland Chill team," said Liguori. "And then [we] just became really close friends and kind of grew up together, playing together." 

The duo stayed together through multiple team switches until their sophomore year of high school, when they went their separate ways. During their time apart, both girls came into their own as players, with Kline being named the 2018 Maryland Gatorade Player of the Year and Liguori receiving All-Metro and All-County honors. They reunited as teammates at Maryland, beginning on that fateful clinic day. 

"It's been a long journey, but it's really been super cool," said Liguori.

Liguori and Kline have thoroughly enjoyed playing with one of their best friends in college. 

"I think it's easy to get away from yourself a little bit when you're here," Liguori said. "You're trying to find yourself a little bit and sometimes you get a little homesick. You want to gravitate back to the people that you know and you love. Being able to have someone here like Campbell, who's known me for so long can help me get back to myself in times of doubt, that's been super helpful for me. It's kind of like a piece of home."  

Kline echoed Liguori's sentiment, describing it as "such a sweet time together." 

"I think we've seen each other grow up and we've helped each other grow," Kline said. "And playing together the past four years, we both have grown a lot."

Along with their mutual growth, Kline and Liguori highlighted the comfortability of always having a childhood friend around. 

"We talk about things and we're like, 'Man, do you remember this?' It's hard to forget because we were just dumb, stupid 10 year olds," Liguori said. 

"To make old jokes that nobody else understands is also really fun," said Kline. "There's a lot of memories that just come up randomly and you just think back and you smile."

A friendship carried by silliness and goofiness on and off the field, Kline carries a favorite memory from early in their softball careers, much to Liguori's dismay. 

"She was always the shortstop, I was always the center fielder. There was this one play where [Liguori] had to run back to grab a pop fly and I was behind her. It hit off the top of her glove and she kind of popped it up to me and she fell on the ground, and I caught it. I remember looking down at her laughing hysterically because it was so funny." 

The duo carries that looseness into the daily grind of Maryland softball, never taking themselves too seriously. 

"No matter what, Campbell can always make me laugh," Liguori said. "I could go 0-3 with three strikeouts and she'll still tell me to Griddy with her to right field. It sounds so cliché, but [our relationship's] really like that." 

Beyond the much-needed goofiness, Kline and Liguori described their childhood playing days as hugely influential in their college careers. Both teammates believe their years-long connection through the game helped prepare them for the competitive Big Ten softball circuit. 

"On the field, our dads were our coaches, and we've learned a lot from them," Kline said. "They were very hard on us, and they taught us a lot. And it's just really cool utilizing those skills that we learned together."

Throughout their four years together in a Maryland uniform, Kline and Liguori have played in over 130 games a piece for the Terps, notching over 80 starts each. Of course, there have been ups and downs, but their friendship has kept them in good spirits through it all. 

"Big Ten softball is really difficult, and it's a challenge, and it's a grind," said Liguori. "It's just important to remember some of your highest moments. I mean, you've been together for 15 years, so obviously you're going to have a lot of high moments together. I'm really grateful to have Campbell remind me of those things on and off the field." 

Liguori also emphasized the pair's ability to read each other's emotions, which is especially helpful during difficult stretches on the field or in their personal lives.

"I also feel like I know Campbell very well, obviously being friends with her forever, so I know what she needs, and when," Liguori said." And even if I don't say it the right way sometimes, I think that she knows where my heart is. And I know where she's at too."   

Kline agreed, adding, "Being a student-athlete is definitely not easy, but having somebody that's like a sister to you, that's there for you, and goes through the same things with you is really comfortable. I just feel like I am not alone when I struggle. And then I can share the really happy times with her as well."

As Terrapins for their entire college careers, the seniors have relished the opportunity to leave their mark on the Maryland softball program. Both girls played vital roles in the Terps' 25-8 start, which was officially the best record through 33 games in program history. 

"I don't mean to toot our horn or anything, but the senior softball class as a whole has done a really good job of being able to help grow this program," Liguori said. "We've taken some of the underclassmen under our wings and held the standards that were set for us when we were freshmen. I'm super grateful for the people that came before us to help, but I think that we've done a really good job of helping keep that family atmosphere."

Kline and Liguori have been a part of over 90 wins and counting throughout their four years, including two of the most successful seasons in recent program history. They've also both made their marks as exemplary teammates and leaders along the way. 

"It's really cool watching T share her skills with other people and teaching others," Kline said. "She's such a great coach and knows a lot about the game. Having grown up on the same team, in the same environment, watching her do what our dads did for us and helping other people grow as well is really fun." 

For the two Maryland natives who have both relished putting on their Terp uniforms for four years, leaving College Park behind won't be easy. 

"I really love our team," Kline said. "I think our teammates are just fantastic. Getting to travel around the country with them, or to Mexico, it's such a fun time and such a unique experience that not a lot of people get to do." 

"I think the athletic department does a really good job of upholding that family standard," said Liguori. "It's athletes supporting athletes, students supporting students. It's always putting the athletes first. It's that camaraderie of just being all together and being one and being a family."

With only a handful of games to go before the end of the season and Senior Day on Sunday, April 30, Kline and Liguori have been reflecting on their softball journey together, finally coming to an end. 

"We were just laying in the outfield after practice recently, and I was thinking about how when we were little, we grew up coming to Maryland softball games together," Kline said. 

"We pretty much started our softball career together and we're going to end it together," Ligouri added. "So it's one of those full circle moments. It's not something that many people ever get to experience. I know I'm super grateful for Campbell and our journey together."

After graduating, the two Terps will begin their own journeys. Kline will start her new role as a General Management Consultant for Booz Allen Hamilton. At the same time, Liguori will pursue a career in coaching while getting a master's degree in Sports Administration. 

The two Terps described the end of their careers as "bittersweet."

"I know that we're going to stay friends after," Liguori said. "You don't just build a 15-year friendship and then never talk to each other again. I'm really excited to see where Campbell goes, and excited to see how much she continues to grow as a leader and to live a great life." 

"Love you," Kline says to Cap off the interview.  

"Love you too," Liguori responds.