A former Midrand High School and Halfway House Primary School pupil, Melina Wilkinson, who is now based in America, has been announced as the new graduate assistant coach for Montreat College’s softball team.
A statement said that Wilkinson completed her bachelor’s degree in business with a concentration in sports management at Montreat College in North Carolina in December last year, and is now pursuing her Master of Science Degree in Management and Leadership at the college.
Wilkinson was the Montreat College’s softball team, the Cavalier’s, starting shortstop for the previous two seasons, earning accolades on and off the field. She was also recognised as the 2015 Montreat Female Athlete of the Year. Wilkinson was also a three-year varsity starter for the women’s soccer team.
Before attending Montreat College in August 2012, Wilkinson competed on the South African collegiate team playing in Thailand at the World Student Games in 2007. In 2012, she was part of the South African National Team which participated at the ISF World Softball Championships in Canada.
In a statement, Wilkinson said, “I am excited to take the graduate assistant position at Montreat College because it is a great opportunity to help continue the growth of the softball programme that I’ve played for while studying to better equip myself as a coach and leader.”
After completing her degree, Wilkinson plans to continue her softball coaching career while also pursuing her dream of playing professional fast-pitch softball.
Speaking to the Midrand Reporter, her mother, Joan, said that she is extremely proud of her and of what she has achieved. She graduated cum laude despite her busy sports schedule, internship, studies and work-study programme. Her mother said, “We are extremely proud of her and what she has achieved. She graduated cum-laude regardless of her busy sports schedule, internship, studies and work-study programme. She is dedicated, hardworking and disciplined… and knows that anything worth having does not come easily.”
She added that when her daughter was in Grade 8, she had to compile a list of her goals and has achieved most of them and is about to tick off the last goal in her list. “A big shout out to all who have played a part in moulding Melina to the person she is today, ” said her mom.
During Wilkinson’s senior season at Montreat, she earned recognition at the American Athletic Conference as:
- The Appalachian Athletic Conference Player of the Week
- All-Conference first team
- All-Defensive team
- All-Academic team
- National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Scholar-Athlete.
