Small town girl, playing softball for a big time team, OSU
By: Zach Parrott
Claire Nicholson, coming from small town Mount Gilead, Ohio, is the catcher for the Ohio State softball team. She is a sophomore majoring in Human Development and Family Sciences. Nicholson lived on a farm growing up and the lessons she learned on the farm has shaped the athlete she has become today.
Nicholson was a high school all-star. She went to River Valley High School and was three- time all district and four- time first team all-conference selection. She also was second team All-Ohio selection as a junior in 2016 when she hit .596 with 42 RBI, 32 runs scored and 15 doubles. She led her team in batting in each of her four years at River Valley High School. Nicholson was an all year athlete, playing for multiple travel ball teams.
Not only was she a stellar athlete on the field, but as well as an impressive sheep and hog showmen at the state and county fairs. On multiple occasions she has made it in the champion drives for both species as well as winning her showmanship classes.
Now she is playing softball on the collegiate level for the Ohio State Buckeyes. Her freshman year, she appeared in eight games with one start versus Northern Illinois. She also had her first career hit at Loyola Marymount. This past season she has a total of 22 hits with 12 runs. She also has a total of four home runs and 17 rbi’s. Her batting average is .224.
Nicholson was asked about what’s it like playing in the big city from playing back home in the country. “There’s a lot more stress that comes with playing for the buckeyes, but as a good player I need to know how to push past the pressure.”
She also discussed how growing up on a farm really helped her become such a dedicated athlete. “I think that being raised on a farm gave me a head start for the work ethic that it takes to be a college athlete. Early mornings at weights are kinda like the early mornings in the barn getting ready for shows. We were always on a schedule with feedings so juggling the practice and workout schedule was easy when I got to college. Also training the lambs and hogs for show took a lot of work as well and it taught me patience and persistence.”
Nicholson also explains however coming from a small town has more pressure than it seems. “The pressure as an athlete from a small town I think differs from person to person. For me I always worry about failing. I’ve worked really hard to get to where I am and my family has sacrificed a lot to get me here. If I fail at softball, I fail them too and that’s the scariest part about being an athlete for me.” Nicholson says there has never been a time where she considered quitting softball, but there have been moments where she hated it. However, the love and support from her family and friends have made her look past all the struggle.
Head Coach for the Ohio State Buckeyes softball team, Kelly Kovach Shoenly talks about Nicholson’s strengths and weaknesses. “Claire is so ambitious and does an amazing job communicating with her teammates on the field. She is a great listener as well. Her greatest weakness is her mind. She sometimes is too hard on herself, but it means she expects a lot from herself and is willing to stay determined and fix any mistakes she has made.”
Nicholson and her team is expecting a lot of success this season, with their record already being 29 wins and 14 losses. With one of their wins being against Michigan University. Nicholson is already shaping to be a great student-athlete and she never forgets where she comes from.
