LAKEWOOD, CO- "Honestly it was being called on by God. I felt having a good Christian foundation-based education was going to be the best thing for me, especially taking this next step into my career." – Mia Stankiewicz

This is how Mia Stankiewicz replied to the question, "Why CCU?" She wasn't planning on coming to CCU, but after a phone call from Coach Larry Hays and the internal calling from the Lord, Stankiewicz knew this is where she had to be.

Stankiewicz, a graduate student and middle infielder for the softball team, first started her collegiate career at Phoenix College. She then transferred to South Mountain Community College, and finally California State University Northridge, where she would play two seasons for the Matadors before coming to CCU. Stankiewicz racked up numerous awards such as NJCAA Division II first team All-American honors, first team All-Conference and All-Region selection, as well as NJCAA Division II National Player of the Week. Since being at CCU, Stankiewicz has added RMAC First Team All-Conference and South-Central Regional Appearance to her already impressive resume. But success isn't an unfamiliar word in the Stankiewicz household.

Mia Stankiewicz is the youngest of four kids, who have all played collegiately, and is also the daughter of Andy Stankiewicz, who played professional baseball in the MLB and is now the head coach at USC.

Stankiewicz loved growing up in an athletic family and felt blessed to have that foundation, but knew she wanted to leave her own legacy. "There was a lot of fight growing up to differentiate from my family. I wanted to broaden myself out and use the characteristics they had given me to grow myself in the sport and my career." While her family had expectations for her, Stankiewicz explains the expectations were to not just take sports seriously, but to use them as an outlet to meet new people. She also claims that "It grew my confidence in myself and in the relationships that I can build along the way."

In just her short time at CCU, Stankiewicz says she has seen so much growth in herself as a person, teammate, and friend, and that it all has to do with the faith-based team that she is involved in. "The pressure is really just not there from my coaches or my teammates. We have expectations to do our best, but it's not ourselves. We are taking the individual out of the game. Everything that we do we are doing it for each other and to show Christ in how we play and live. I am more confident, relaxed, and focused. Not just in softball, but in the relationships I am building in the sport."