MCKENNA MEADORS ADMIRES HER PARENTS, BRADD AND TRISH. SHE LOOKS UP TO THEM. ADORES THEM.
So, when The Woodlands Christian Academy senior discovered that both of her parents played sports in college at Hannibal-LaGrange University in Missouri, she knew she wanted to as well.
"Growing up, it wasn't an expectation, but it was something that I wanted," Meadors said. "I wanted to be like them."
Like parents, like daughter.
Meadors, a two-sport standout for the Warriors, signed February 1 to play softball at Hill College. She is a right-handed pitcher who also plays first and third base.
"It's so cool to me, because it was real important that I played in college," said Meadors, who also played basketball for the Warriors and was even offered to play both sports in college.
Through the softball season's first 12 games, Meadors hit .512 with 22 RBIs and four home runs for the Warriors with 22 runs scored and a .533 on-base percentage. In the circle, she had a 2.41 ERA with 59 strikes to 21 walks and 13 earned runs in 61 innings.
After the 2020 high school softball season was canceled because of the pandemic, Meadors is grateful to be playing her senior year. "It was a seize-the-moment type of thing," she said. "I'm very blessed for the opportunities that God has provided me with, with us being able to play our season.
It really is a blessing and I know God has big plans for my life. Us getting to play this year was a part of that, because I've been able to grow more with my friends and my walk of faith as well."
Playing and going to school at TWCA has aided that purpose, spiritually and athletically.
"It's definitely a lot more freedom that's put on us as students," Meadors said. "I feel like they trust us a lot more. I've definitely grown in my walk with God. That's been a huge part. I feel with it being a smaller school, I've been able to focus more on myself with my coaches, opposed to the 60 or 70 girls that would try to play one sport at a public school. I've been able to hone my skills more."
Meadors used to never see a correlation between athletics and faith. But her time at TWCA showed her that they are more a team than not.
"Whenever you're at a public school, it's not as common to see people living out their Christian lifestyle," Meadors said. "So, whenever you come here, and it's like the norm for everyone, always praying and having a Bible class that focuses on improving in our walk with God … from a sports level, it had always been separate to me. But through coming to this school, I have combined Christianity and sports and I try and use that."
