Local face: Jess Rhoads
By Erin Kriner `10

Local Jess Rhoads is no stranger to media attention. Since winning Messiah College’s first NCAA Division III softball national championship in May, she’s had so many reporters contact her that she can’t keep track. Behind all the media attention — from Sports Illustrated to local newspapers — Rhoads is happy to simply be a member of the Dillsburg and Messiah College communities.

The first memory Rhoads has of Messiah is participating in basketball and field hockey camps. After testing out the athletic waters, softball became her niche, and, since fifth grade, Rhoads has been playing softball. What started out as something that might be “fun” turned into a passion.In seventh grade, Rhoads started playing softball all year long and eventually played for a Philadelphia team that traveled around the country.

Now as a second-year student at Messiah, Rhoads is studying sport management. Rhoads is happy to be at Messiah and have a great support system from her softball teammates. After attending another school for a semester, Rhoads made a big decision to move home to be closer to her family. “I always
wanted to go to Messiah,” she said. “Eventually things fell into place where I had the opportunity to come here.”

The beauty of the campus and its proximity to home were just some of the things that attracted her to Messiah.

In addition, the pitching instructor she worked with during high school was coaching for Messiah. Now Rhoads herself will serve as a trailblazer for what has become a nationally recognized softball program. “It hasn’t even sunk in yet . . . what we’ve done,” said Rhoads. “We practiced everyday and our team became very close. That continual practice and team bond are what helped us win a championship.”

As a person who has always wanted to get more people involved in softball, Rhoads will continue to take the steps necessary to do so. “You always see kids watching baseball when they are little, so when you see girls get excited when they see a softball team, it is great,” she reflected.

As she looks toward the future, Rhoads sees many promising opportunities. “Softball is a growing sport, but at the same time other sports are growing,” she said. “I think winning this championship gives us the platform to help more girls get involved and to be an inspiration for them.”

In June, Rhoads got a chance to teach young players alongside former Olympic softball star Michelle Smith. Smith called Rhoads to invite her to help with a clinic that Smith was holding in Hershey.

Rhoads is grateful for all the opportunities she has been given and especially for the chance to meet her teammates. Reflecting on their phenomenal season, Rhoads adds, “By the end we were like
family. The whole experience was great.”