From a young age, Stella Jameson, a senior, has had a keen interest in soccer. After being introduced to it in elementary school, she knew that was what she wanted to do.
“I would see a lot of my friends playing soccer at recess in elementary school, and I wanted to play, but I sucked. I was horrible, and all the kids played premier and were really good,” she said.
After telling her dad that she wanted to play, he was ecstatic. She noted that both of her siblings had tried it, but neither cared for the sport. Her dad, being a soccer coach, felt grateful that one of his children had an interest in it.
Jameson continued playing through high school at Shawnee Mission East in Prairie Village, Kan., before beginning her college career at Central Methodist University in Fayette, Mo. However, Jameson found that Fayette wasn’t the right fit for her.
“I wasn’t very happy there. It was very much a ghost town that didn’t have a lot,” Jameson said.
That wasn’t the only factor in her decision to transfer. Around the same time, her mother underwent a serious heart surgery. When deciding where to go next, distance from home became a major consideration.
“I would rather be 30 minutes from home rather than three hours if something happened,” she said.
Jameson joined the Baker women’s soccer team in her first year at Baker and has since started in 15 games. Reflecting on her time with the program, she said the experience has largely been positive despite the challenges that come with being a student athlete.
“I mean, obviously, there are times where it’s difficult, and it’s a lot on the mind and the body,” Jameson said. “But for the most part it’s been only positive.”
Jameson also credits her coaches and teammates for giving her leadership opportunities during her time with the program.
After graduating, Jameson plans to work as a sports performance trainer with the University of Kansas Health System. She first connected with the organization through a summer internship.
Though her time on the field at Baker has come to an end, Jameson’s impact on the women’s soccer program and the lessons she gained from it will continue to shape her future beyond college athletics.
