WNZR’s Marcy Rinehart talked with former MVNU softball standout Stephanie Johnson Smith, who will be inducted into the Cougar Wall of Fame during Homecoming Weekend.
Click HERE to hear the full conversation or click on the picture link below.
Smith shares that she grew up in Tallmadge, Ohio, near Akron, and came to MVNU after learning about the university through friends and the opportunity to play softball. She earned degrees in Health and Physical Education and Exercise Studies and remained an additional semester to complete student teaching.
After graduation, Smith accepted a position at Worthington Christian School in Columbus and has remained there for 20 years. She teaches physical education, health, fitness, nutrition, and weight training classes and says she has enjoyed a long career helping students develop healthy habits and life skills.
Smith discusses her experiences coaching after college, including nearly a decade coaching high school soccer and softball. After stepping away from coaching to focus on raising her family, she recently returned to the sidelines through girls flag football and youth softball.
She also updates listeners on her family life. Smith and her husband Brad have been married for 16 years and have two children, Brinley and Beckett, who attend Worthington Christian School. She says their family stays busy traveling to sports and activities, with both children actively involved in athletics.
Smith reflects on her softball career, which began in tee ball as a young child. She credits her father, who coached her through much of her youth and high school career, for helping develop her love for the game and teaching her the importance of hard work and preparation.
She also looks back on her four seasons as the Cougars’ shortstop. While she enjoyed many successes on the field, Smith says her favorite memories center on the friendships she built with teammates and coaches. She recalls team trips, bus rides, and time spent together as some of the most meaningful parts of her college experience.
Smith reacts to the many honors and records she earned during her Cougar career, including several all-conference and academic recognitions as well as numerous places in the MVNU softball record book. She says she had not thought much about those accomplishments in recent years and views them as a reflection of the teammates and coaches who helped her succeed.
She also discusses learning that she would be inducted into the Cougar Wall of Fame. Smith says she was surprised when she received the phone call and was especially excited to learn she would be inducted alongside former teammate and close friend Heather. She describes the recognition as both humbling and meaningful.
Click HERE for more information on MVNU’s Homecoming events!
Stephanie (Johnson) Smith played for the softball team from 2003-2006 as a shortstop.
She holds MVNU records for:
– Most career at bats with 550
– Most career doubles with 57
– 5th in most games played with 163
– 4th in highest career batting average with an average of .400
– 3rd in career hits with 220
– 2nd in career RBI’s with 141
– 2nd most career in assists with 403.
As a freshman in 2003, Johnson was named:
– American Mideast Conference Honorable Mention
– American Mideast Conference Freshman of the Year
– NCCAA East Region Team
– NCCAA Honorable Mention All-American
– Cougar Sports Associates’ “Freshman of the Year,” and
– the 2003 Team Most Valuable Player as a Freshman!
In 2004 as a sophomore, she batted .359, had a team best 14 doubles, five triples, two home runs, 29 runs scored, and 34 RBIs. She was also named to:
– the AMC South Division Second Team
– NCCAA East Region Team, and
– NCCAA Honorable Mention All-American Team.
In 2005 as a junior, Johnson was named:
– American Mideast Conference South Division Second Team
– NCCAA East Region Team
– NFCA Great Lakes Region Second Team
– NCCAA All-American First Team
– American Mideast Conference All-Academic Team
– NCCAA All-America Scholar-Athlete
– NAIA All-America Scholar-Athlete, and
– ESPN The Magazine© Academic All-District IV First Team. In 2006, as a senior, she was named:
– American Mideast Conference South Division First Team
– NAIA Region IX Team
– NCCAA East Region Team
– NCCAA East Region Player of the Year
– NCCAA All-American First Team
– American Mideast Conference All-Academic Team
– NCCAA All-America Scholar-Athlete and
– NAIA All-America Scholar-Athlete
