NICOLE MENDES
Q&A
SUMMER IN THE SPOTLIGHT BY JASON ROMANO
Softball star Nicole Mendes capped her collegiate career at Oklahoma in June with a second national championship, then suited up for Mexico in July at the Tokyo Olympics. No matter where she’s at, her growing faith in the Lord is shining through.
Then, in July, she embarked on a new venture, representing Mexico on its national softball team at the Tokyo Olympics. The squad finished fourth after losing the bronze-medal game to Canada, 3-2. The host nation, Japan, won gold by defeating the U.S., 2-0. Prior to the Olympics, we talked to Mendes about her growing faith in the Lord and winning the Women’s College World Series. We then followed up with her after the Olympics to hear about her experience in Tokyo. 42
SPORTS SPECTRUM
Q&A: How does it feel to be a college softball national champion for the second time?
I definitely feel like I’m part of an elite club now. Definitely in some great company, but it still seems surreal. Sometimes I can’t even believe that this past season, this past year, even happened. So it’s just a surreal feeling.
Q&A:
What’s the moment that stands out to you from this run you guys made to win the title?
Whenever you lose the first game [of the College World Series tournament], you have the next day off. And, it literally has nothing to do with softball, but I just remember the team getting together. Scissortail Park in Oklahoma City is right next door to our hotel. So, Coach [Patty Gasso] calls us down and she’s like, “We’re going to go for a walk.” And so we just walk around the hotel To listen to the entire interview T O S U B S C Rwith IBE: CALL 866-821-2971 Nicole Mendes, visit SportsSpectrum.com
AP Photo/ Sue Ogrocki, Jae C. Hong
Nicole Mendes
just finished a summer she’ll never forget. In June, she closed her college softball career with the Oklahoma Sooners by winning a second national championship, returning from an injury to help lead her team to the Women’s College World Series. The outfielder finished the season with a .364 batting average over 56 games.
