COLUMBUS — A 11-year-old central Ohio girl is making waves with her voice singing the National Anthem at major sporting events across the state garnering lots of cheers and attention.
What You Need To Know
- Leighton Augenstein has been singing since she was just a little girl
- She was asked to perform the National Anthem at the OSU Iowa women's basketball game earlier this year
- The fifth grader says she was nervous at first but now has done it so many times that it's second nature
- Her mom hopes Leighton continues to do what she loves, no matter what that is
It’s hard to forget Leighton Augenstein’s voice. And you can imagine the ovation she gets for her performances.
In fact, she has sung the National Anthem at quite a few big events this year including the OHSAA boys and girls' basketball state championships, an Ohio State men’s basketball game and the OSU Iowa Women’s basketball game featuring Caitlin Clark.
“I didn’t know how huge that was going to be and he was like absolutely say yes now, we are definitely, that’s a huge game," said Melissa Augenstein, Leighton's mom.
That game sparked it all.
“I think to take big breaths and be like woo," Leighton said of her big moment.
Leighton spends a lot of her time working on her singing, and of course, sings songs other than the National Anthem.
The big opportunity is quite nerve-wracking, something Leighton had to overcome.
“I was scared," she said of the big events. "I was like, 'I don’t want to go, I’m scared. What if I mess up?'”
But now the fifth grader has performed the National Anthem many times.
“More than like 3,000," she guessed.
Something her mom can’t believe.
“She’ll just go in there and not have a nerve in the world and she goes out, and she belts it and I mean it’s just crazy," Melissa said. "To hear the crowd react is just, that’s where it hits me. Them wailing and screaming and reacting to her singing is so cool.”
While Leighton is quite the performer, she also spends many days a week dancing, it’s something she knows she loves and will make the most of the opportunities given to her including four National Anthems just this weekend.
“I’ll just be tired and then I’ll be there and sing when I need to," Leighton said. "Like tell me when to be there and I’ll do it!”
Her mom is taking it all in, but knows Leighton is still just a kid.
“She’s so young too," Melissa said. "So, it’s that fine balance of she’s still a kid and she needs to still be a kid. But also she has the talent and the ability to take this wherever she really wants to if she wants to put the work in.”
Leighton has a busy schedule this weekend- singing at four events including the Columbus Fury game Friday night and OSU’s men's lacrosse game on Saturday.