It’s not every day that someone you know becomes a Division 1 (D1) athlete, however, that changes for many of Horizon’s high schoolers this week. Josie Barden, a junior at Horizon Honors, has committed to the University of North Dakota (UND) for softball to become a member of the Fighting Hawks. UND is a D1 school for softball and is ranked 244 out of 436 universities. Barden has been playing softball since she was five or six years old, and has always had an ambition to continue playing in college. While she does play for our school, the main way the college found her was through her club, AZ Storm Mendez. The positions she plays are shortstop and second base. Barden doesn’t know yet what she’ll be playing in college, but with how long she has been playing, there is no doubt she’ll have success wherever she goes.
Barden received the offer for a full ride including dorms, dining, and classes. To quote her, she will “just have to pay for…decorations.” Earlier in my interview with her, Barden stated that she was observed over the summer then began the first contact with the college herself. Then, due to D1 head coaches not being allowed to contact players until the first day of September (in their junior year), she waited until Sept. 2 to get the offer. She then visited the college on Oct. 12, and announced that she was committed to her club and on her social media. Barden explained that she also made her decision based on the athletic environment in the area of the college. North Dakota is very focused on their college sports, due to the state not actually having any professional sports. This mentality does not just apply just to the physical area, but the environment within the team as well. She described the coaches as very “lighthearted people” who seem like “they want to grow their program.” During her visit, she also stayed overnight in a dorm with some of the girls who currently play for the Fighting Hawks, and described them overall as “welcoming.” Although her major is undecided, UND is known to have a good support system when it comes to academic success, including tutoring and academic advising when it comes to their athletes. With these things in mind, even when asked if she was nervous for the new environment, she says she tends to not get very homesick and is confident she will be okay.
Barden still has two seasons of school ball, plus club to further improve her skills before attending the University of North Dakota. Go watch her play softball in the spring, to hopefully help launch our team to state finals again!
