Despite not wanting to play the sport at first, redshirt-junior Jordan Johnson has played softball since she was six. 

“I honestly did not want to play softball, but one of my friend’s dad talked me into playing tee-ball for him. From there, my dad was my right-hand, helping me through everything,” Johnson said. 

Johnson has played softball at UCA for four years and serves as a pitcher. 

To Johnson, the softball team’s greatest achievement of the year so far is beating three Power-Five teams. She said this puts their name forward. Her biggest personal accomplishment on the team is throwing three perfect games during her career at UCA.

“This season has been a roller coaster, but it has been pointing upward for a majority of the time. We have seen some really good teams, but we have also had some tough games that didn’t go our way. We have been working so hard as a team though, and I believe it is really going to pay off with a lot more great things to come,” Johnson said.

In 2019, Johnson earned the Easton/NFCA All-America Scholar Athlete and had 31 strikeouts over 53.1 innings. She earned a spot in the Second Team All-Academic SLC and recorded a  career-high eight strikeouts against Lyon.

Johnson is a criminology and chemistry double major. After graduation, she plans to attend graduate school for a forensic science degree. She’d love to be a forensic scientist but also hopes to someday coach a softball league.

“I would also like to coach young softball players to help them achieve their dreams like I had when I was growing up,” Johnson said. 

The softball player chose to attend UCA for several reasons. Being from a small town in Kansas, Johnson is glad Conway isn’t overwhelming. She describes UCA’s campus as feeling like home, and she enjoys the beautiful scenery. 

Johnson also credits the coaches and academic staff as being part of the reason she chose to study at and play for UCA. 

“The coaches and academic staff here only want the best for you, not only as an athlete but as a person, which is what it is all about because, one day, sports will end. UCA has great programs for what I am studying, which will prepare me for the future,” Johnson said. 

Johnson balances school and softball by taking life one day at a time and not getting caught up in what the future holds. She tries to focus on living in the moment to the best of her ability. 

“Coping with being a student-athlete is never easy. You constantly have to miss class and makeup work with little free time, but I feel it is all worth it,” Johnson said. 

She also uses her free time to do things that make her happy, like going for hikes or seeing movies. This keeps her mind off of stressors in her world. 

Johnson’s advice for students wanting to compete at the college level is to always be coachable and flexible. 

“There is a place for every athlete and a role that needs to be played, and the quicker you can accept that and fit into that, the better you will be,” Johnson said.