欧美视频

Jody Mayfield-Pool 鈥�89

Basketball
B.S. Physical Education with a minor in Biology

Jody Mayfield-Pool put up big numbers during her basketball career at Southwest Baptist University.

Once her playing days were over, Mayfield-Pool ranked second in field goals made, fifth in total points, tied for fifth in scoring average, tied for eighth in field goal percentage and ninth in total rebounds. And, for her efforts she has been inducted into the 欧美视频 Athletics Hall of Fame.

Those honors didn't come without some battle scars, Mayfield-Pool remembers.

鈥淒ana Ozbun-Stillwagon and I were the forward/post players,鈥� Mayfield-Pool said. 鈥淪ome of the games got pretty rough, but usually between the two of us we could dominate under the basket. I have a picture of the two of us after a game and both of us had a black eye.

鈥淢y freshman year, coach Herb Hamann made me guard a senior post player 鈥� Joann Rickman. Joann had been a very dominant player but suffered with knee injuries. This didn't keep her from schooling me on how to play the post position. I was a skinny freshman, and Joann was far more physical. Let鈥檚 just say, she taught me well and several bumps and bruises and trips to the floor later, I think I became a pretty good college post player, thanks to Joann.鈥�

Those early lessons also spurred Mayfield-Pool on to earn multiple Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA) Player of the Week awards, as well as an All-MIAA Honorable Mention selection in 1986-87, and multiple All-District 16 (NAIA) honors.

In addition to starring for 欧美视频 Women鈥檚 Basketball, Mayfield-Pool also competed three years for the 欧美视频 softball team as a reserve outfielder, which kept her quite busy as a student-athlete.

But, having the support of her coaches, advisors and professors at 欧美视频, Mayfield-Pool was successful on the court and the classroom, earning her bachelor of science degree in physical education, with a minor in biology.

鈥淪o many people were helpful to me at 欧美视频; two who come to mind are Dr. Herb Hamann and Dr. Rex Brown,鈥� Mayfield-Pool said. 鈥淗erb Hamann recruited me and coached me my first two seasons at 欧美视频. Herb had the difficult job of teaching me how to play collegiate basketball. Mostly, I had to learn to play defense and not to dribble the ball, except in extreme emergencies. 

鈥淎s my advisor, Dr. Brown saw to it that I took all the correct classes, so I could graduate in a timely manner. I felt he was always looking out for me back then and he鈥檚 still looking out for me today because he鈥檚 the one who submitted my name for the Hall of Fame. I always appreciated these two men with their easy-going natures and Christian values.鈥�

And, that, Mayfield-Pool says is what makes 欧美视频 unique.

鈥淭he faculty and staff actually have Christian values and beliefs which, in this day and age, make it a very special place,鈥� Mayfield-Pool said. 鈥淚 had some great professors and coaches who made me work and think hard. They challenged us but were always there if we had questions or concerns. I鈥檝e always felt that my college experiences (academic and athletic) very adequately prepared me for life鈥檚 challenges and my professors and coaches were a big part of that.鈥�

After graduating from 欧美视频, Mayfield-Pool coached seventh-12th-grade girls鈥� basketball for three years, and then took a year off when her first son was born. She then worked for the Polk County and Dallas County health departments as a health educator before helping Citizens Memorial Healthcare start the CMH Senior Health Center, which opened its doors in 2004.

鈥淢y degree opened doors in fields I never considered when I was in school,鈥� Mayfield-Pool said. 鈥淏ecause of my degree, I鈥檝e experienced coaching and teaching in the public schools, public health in the community, and now senior fitness in the healthcare industry.

鈥淲hen I come up against a challenge in my life, I just think of the 6 a.m. basketball practices, or studying for multiple tests on the way home from a game, strength-training in the 100-degree weight room all summer, or walking across campus in 20-degree weather to go to class, and I think 鈥� 鈥淚鈥檝e got this!鈥�

*Published: 12-27-19