James LeClercq '17
Coming towards the end of her final season with the Broncos, senior Jordan Newell (JN) continues to show her leadership on and off the field, both with her play and mentoring the underclassmen to become future leaders. Santa Clara Broncos (SCU) had a chance to talk with Newell as she looks forward to competing against old rivals and showing the WCC what Santa Clara softball is all about.
SCU: How did your March Madness bracket turn out?
JN: I had Kentucky going all the way! I would have loved to see Wisconsin win the whole thing though. They are a fun team to watch.
SCU: What emotions have you been feeling about your final year in a Bronco uniform?
JN: I still can't believe I only have a month left. It's so surreal. My body is probably going to thank me when my softball career is over, but I will definitely miss it. Even with 6AM practices, I've tried to enjoy every minute of this year and not take anything for granted. My fellow seniors and I are the last class that played our home games at West Valley. It is amazing to see how far we have come since then and we are truly grateful to have our beautiful on-campus stadium. It goes without saying that our senior day on May 2nd is going to be pretty emotional.
SCU: How is your season going so far and what games are you looking forward to in particular?
JN: We've seen so many positive things this season. We've played a long and difficult pre-season and we are ready to compete in conference play. Without a doubt, this is the best group of girls I've played with since being here. This particular team definitely knows how to play competitive softball and has fun while doing it. Personally, I am really excited to play BYU again this year. They are always top competitor and we played really well against them last year. We can't wait to show them what our team is capable of.
SCU: How are the freshmen adjusting to the college level of play?
JN: The freshmen are doing great and I am so proud of how they adjusted to this level of softball and college life in general. We've had them step up in key moments this season which is huge for us. Their confidence and positive attitudes are great additions to our team and they will definitely make a huge impact during their time at SCU. I wish I could have played with them for longer than one year.
SCU: Is it different having a role where underclassmen are looking up to you? What advice do you have for them for this season and the future?
JN: It was very different role to fill in the beginning of the season, but now I am fairly used to it. Our senior class aimed to be approachable, positive and helpful. We've seen our program go through it all and we know exactly what has worked for our team and what hasn't. That in particular has worked to our benefit. My advice for the freshmen is to enjoy every minute of your time here because it goes by a lot faster than you think. Take pride in being a Santa Clara softball player. Create lasting relationships with your teammates. And when things get tough, which they always do, remember why you starting playing this game in the first place.
SCU: What is the next step for you after the season ends?
JN: It's so strange to think about life after softball because I've been playing since I was five years old. I'm definitely going to take some time to relax and enjoy my last quarter at SCU. I also finally get the chance to travel a lot this summer and go on a trip of a lifetime to Greece with some friends and family.
