Nicki Derrick '20 Recruiting Profile

    I have grown up in a very small town and it has shaped me into the player and person that I am today, and that is something that I will forever be thankful for. But most often in small town everybody is playing sports because "it is fun", but heading into playoff my Freshman year after we had defeated a top team to punch a ticket to the Semi-Finals, I realized that I don't want to be playing  because "it is fun", I want play to because I genuinely love the game, and I want to be doing this for as long as I can. That moment was really a turning point not only my career as an athlete but in the classroom as well. Softball motivates me and every aspect of life, I believe that whatever person I become it will be because of this game.

    Again coming from a small town our family has had the amazing opportunity to work with some of our youth, that is something that I have loved to be involved with. Especially because a lot of the kids I work with haven't found there reason to play the game, and fall in love with like I did, I want to be one of the reasons they play and love the game. I want to be the one to motivate them to set a goal to play at the collegiate  level like I have.   I did not always have this passion for the game, for 2 years straight I did not even get to start the season with my team a, a couple of injuries that set me back physically and mentally really played a roll in the shaping of me. Watching my team play without me was mentally deteriorating.  That was the first time that something beat me down, but I do not regret being hurt one bit because I came back stronger and with  goal set to never put my self in a position to where I will have to watch a team I should be playing for. Through that time I learned the value of a team, true determination in the physical recovery period, and leadership from a different perspective. I believe that with those qualities and with my talents I could be a great investment for any program!