Posted: Feb 25, 2016
"
Name: Mellissa Webb
Year: Senior
Major: Early Childhood Education
Minor: Music
Sports: Softball
Positions: Pitcher/1B
Senior Mellissa Webb transferred to Wesleyan as a junior after playing two years of softball at Lake Sumter State CC in Ocala, FL. As a junior, she won nine games for the Wolves, carrying the load on the mound by pitching nearly 150 innings. She threw 108 strikeouts as compared to only 28 walks, and for her impressive statistics, she earned the Great South Athletic Conference Pitcher of the Year.
This season, Webb has picked up one win for the Wolves and has pitched 37 innings over the course of eight games. She has already rung up 37 batters but only has four walks to her credit.
""We got really lucky when we were able to get Mellissa to join our team after playing two years at a junior college in Florida,"" remarked Wesleyan head softball coach Dickey Hightower. ""She's a great athlete and brings a lot to our team on the field from a pitching and hitting standpoint, but she's also a tremendous leader and captain of our team. I'm grateful to have the chance to coach someone like her, and we will certainly miss her leadership when she graduates after this season.""
1) Why did you choose to attend Wesleyan College?
My friend that was my catcher on my last college team told me about Wesleyan and got me in contact with Coach Hightower. I came on a visit and fell in love with the school and also heard very good things about the education department here. I decided to transfer here in order to continue to play softball and continue my early childhood education major.
My friend that was my catcher on my last college team told me about Wesleyan and got me in contact with Coach Hightower. I came on a visit and fell in love with the school and also heard very good things about the education department here. I decided to transfer here in order to continue to play softball and continue my early childhood education major.
2) You were named GSAC Pitcher of the Year last season. To what do you credit such high praise and what will you do to try to repeat as the top pitcher in the league again this year?
I just credit a lot of hard work and dedication to the sport. I am in no way the best pitcher, but I work hard every day to be the best pitcher I can be. It is my goal to be Pitcher of the Year again, but I'm not solely focused on that. I just work hard for my team and try to have fun every game.
I just credit a lot of hard work and dedication to the sport. I am in no way the best pitcher, but I work hard every day to be the best pitcher I can be. It is my goal to be Pitcher of the Year again, but I'm not solely focused on that. I just work hard for my team and try to have fun every game.
3)
Coach Hightower has brought the softball program to relevance over the past few years. What are your thoughts on the work he has done for the program, and how has he impacted you personally?
Coach has put in so much time and effort to make this softball program much more competitive. He really cares about you as a person, not just another athlete on his team. It has been refreshing to have a coach that truly cares.
4) What expectations do you have for yourself and the softball team this season?
I expect us to be competitive in every game and really work together as a team to make each game our best. I hope to win our conference this year. With a little hard work and dedication from everyone, I believe that is very attainable.
5) Who has been one of your favorite professors while at Wesleyan and why?
I am a bit biased, but I have had Dr. Wilcox several times as she is one of the education professors here. I always enjoy her classes and she makes each class interesting and fun.
I am a bit biased, but I have had Dr. Wilcox several times as she is one of the education professors here. I always enjoy her classes and she makes each class interesting and fun.
5) What class are you most enjoying this semester and why?
I am currently taking Teaching Mathematics with Dr. Wilcox and I am really enjoying it so far. I am learning a lot of techniques to apply in my future classroom in order to help my students understand and enjoy math.
I am currently taking Teaching Mathematics with Dr. Wilcox and I am really enjoying it so far. I am learning a lot of techniques to apply in my future classroom in order to help my students understand and enjoy math.
6) What are your plans for the future?
I hope to become an elementary school teacher anywhere I am needed. I have also been looking into Teach for America and other programs where I could travel but still teach. I also hope to continue to have softball and pitching as part of my life, either through coaching or playing or maybe both.
I hope to become an elementary school teacher anywhere I am needed. I have also been looking into Teach for America and other programs where I could travel but still teach. I also hope to continue to have softball and pitching as part of my life, either through coaching or playing or maybe both.
"