DCHS softball players Hannah Walker and Dani Meadows signed to play softball with Roane State Community College Monday. Roane State is a two-year junior college located in Harriman. The Roane State Raiders play in a nationally recognized conference in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA), and are coached by Sue Niemi.
Roane State Assistant Coach Jesse Hackworth said that she was pleased to be in Smithville signing two outstanding players to her program.
"Today we’re signing Hannah and Dani, and adding two more great student athletes to our program. We believe they are going to help us reach that next level and win a championship this coming year, and were very excited to have them join our program," Hackworth shared.
She said Meadows and Walker had every chance of earning a starting position on the team.
"Every year it’s a competition, it wouldn’t be a true athletic program if these kids didn’t have the ability to compete for a position, and these ladies have every opportunity to win a starting position at Roane State," the coach continued. "We are always looking to put the best out on the field, and I think they have the ability to take us to the next level. They both have good defensive and offensive strengths that will contribute to the team’s success."
She also said her relationship with DeKalb’s coaches has been a boon to the Roane State program.
"I respect the coaches at DeKalb very much, and they have put out some tremendous talent in the last few years. I’ve known Danny Fish for a very long time, and I respect his opinion, so when he gives me a heads-up I listen. You have a great program and a great community here that supports athletics. We’re proud to have two members of this community join our community," she concluded.
DCHS Head Coach Danny Bond said he was happy that his player’s skills were being acknowledged by college scouts.
"It’s great when you have athletes come through the program and have colleges recognize their talent. These two ladies have discipline, they have leadership ability," bond said. "They have displayed that for all four years that they’ve been here. Dani Meadows has been our catcher for three and one half years, and Hannah Walker has played the outfield for two years. This year was her best year. She really came on as an outfielder, and as center-fielder she’s kind of the coach of the outfield. Dani is pretty much another coach being the plate. They see everything. My hat is off to them, and not just for softball, but for academics, and for doing what’s right, both on the field and off."
Both girls said they visited the campus and fell in love.
"Dani and Tyra Graham and I all went to Roane State for a workout kind of thing, and we fell in love with the girls, with the coaches, and then house they live in," Walker shared. "They all live in one house, and we thought that was really cool.
I just fell in love with the program," Meadows agreed. "I really love the coaches, they are a lot like Coach Fish and Coach Bond. Like Hannah, I fell in love with the coaches, the girls, the house and the school. They are all just perfect, and the best fit for us.