The path to Illinois State softball was not clear-cut for senior Riley Phipps. However, that has not stopped her from reaching her goals, and then setting them even higher.
The Mattoon, Illinois, native grew up playing not only softball, but also volleyball and basketball as the middle child in a family of five. When the time came to choose one, softball was the clear winner.
"I just really love the game," Phipps said. "I was better at softball, too. My dad and I really bonded over softball. He was my coach for six or seven years when I was younger. I could imagine myself giving up the other two, but I couldn't imagine myself giving up softball."
With Phipps' sole attention on softball, she worked her way to become a four-year starter at Mattoon High School, earning all-state honors three times and helping her team to two regional championships and a state championship appearance. Although she was not a member of Illinois State's original recruiting class, Phipps continued to work toward her goal of Division I softball.
"I went to Heartland first," Phipps said. "It was my goal to go to a Division I school from the start, so Heartland was a stepping-stone for that. Coach Steve Loverton at Heartland and Nick Nelson from Lakeland helped me get in touch with coach Melinda Fischer."
During Phipps' two seasons at Heartland, she earned all-conference, all-region, and academic all-conference honors each year. During her first season, Phipps batted .423 with eight home runs and 52 RBI. She followed that up with 21 home runs as sophomore, the fifth most in NJCAA Division II, to slug .862 with 54 RBI.
During Heartland's regional tournament appearance in 2016, Phipps received word that her dream was coming into fruition.
"It was really fast and slow at the same time," Phipps said. "We were in our region tournament and I got a call from Nick to call Melinda. I came to visit a month later and realized I loved the campus, the school and the coaches, so the decision was made."
In her first season donning Illinois State on her jersey, Phipps started five games and her Division I debut came against perennial powerhouse Michigan. Despite not being in a consistent role in the lineup, she came in when the pressure was on and knew how to rise to the occasion. In the Redbirds' victory over Michigan State for the NISC Regional title, Phipps sent a double-to right-center to spark momentum for the win.
Turning toward her final collegiate season with only one semester left of class, Phipps' goals are still high both on and off the field. Majoring in business information systems, the doors are wide open, but sports are in her blood.
"My dream would be to work for Louisville Slugger," Phipps said, "Anything in that business would be amazing, or even just something to keep me involved with softball or sports in general. My family and I visited Louisville Slugger on a family vacation a few years ago and I was impressed with everything. Plus, I would get bored being away from the game for too long."
Studying engineering at Heartland, business information systems ties in both the analytics and programing side of the business world.
"I have always liked breaking things down and doing DIY-type projects," Phipps said. "At Heartland, I shadowed an engineering firm and they just sat behind a desk most of the time, which isn't for me. I want to be in the decision-making processes of making the bat, not necessarily the engineering. I like breaking things down and looking at the different parts and I hope business analytics gets me in that situation."
But before Phipps can reach her goal with Louisville Slugger, her eyes are set on a successful 2018 season on the field after sharing the MVC Championship in 2017.
"I want to win another conference championship," Phipps said. "I really think we have what it takes to win overall and be outright champions. I want to make it to the NCAA tournament this year too. We're almost there, but we can't settle for almost there."
With less than a month until spring practices start, the Redbirds will make their final individual tune-ups before reporting for the first day of practice on January 8, 2018.
"Everyone's mindset is the same for the season," Phipps said. "We want to go to those big tournaments and be successful and competitive. We want to show that we're not just some team in Normal, Illinois. We'll be ready to play."
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