HawkStrong: Jada Oliver makes MCCAA Second Team All-Eastern Conference

Not only did HFC student-athlete Jada Oliver’s grandfather Vincent Thomas inspire her to play softball, he also served as her coach at Cass Technical High School in Detroit.

“My grandfather and my aunts earned championship rings from D-1 schools. My grandfather saw my height (5 foot 10) and told me I have the potential to be great. He was a huge influence on me and a great coach,” said Oliver, of Oak Park.

A great teammate

The youngest of three and the only daughter, Oliver began playing softball at 14, which is later than when many of her teammates began playing. At Cass Tech, she also participated in volleyball, track, basketball, and choir.

Oliver completed her first year at HFC, where she switched her majors from criminal justice to dental hygiene. She is attending HFC on an athletic scholarship.

“I love playing for Coach Steve Brown,” she said. “He’s a great guy who creates a great environment to make you feel part of the team. He’s very knowledgeable, very welcoming.”

“Jada’s a great teammate,” said Brown. “As a freshman, she did a tremendous job helping us on the mound. She was very supportive of her teammates and had a positive attitude. We’re expecting great things from her next year.”

“Practice makes perfect, but competing makes perfect too”

For the 2022-23 season, the Hawks took third place in the Michigan Community College Athletic Association Eastern Conference with a record of 17-13. The team’s overall record was 21-17. One of the highlights of this season was being featured as the NJCCA Game of the Week on ESPN+.

“I was trying hard not to let the cameras get into my head. I kept thinking, ‘Don’t mess up now.’ It was nerve-wracking, but it was a fun experience,” she said. “No matter where you go, you don’t know who could be watching. We were out there playing in tournaments and on national TV. Practice makes perfect, but competing on the field makes perfect too.”

8 dingers

Oliver was named MCCAAA Second Team All-Eastern. This season, she hit eight home runs.

“That’s more hom runs than I expected,” she admitted. “The sophomores on the team made a huge impact on how I play. Lauren Gannon, through her hard work and dedication, always motivated us to do our best. If we didn’t feel it, she tried to make us feel it. She brought a lot of fun to the team.”

Biggest highlight of the season was off the field

It wasn’t being on national TV, being named to the MCCAA Second Team, succeeding in the pitcher's circle, or hitting eight home runs that made Oliver’s season.

“The best thing that happened to me this season is my grandmother beat cancer,” she said. “That’s my biggest highlight and I am forever grateful.”