Rochester’s Hackworth to play softball at Trine

BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS

Sports Editor, RTC

Rochester senior Jordyn Hackworth signs with Trine University to continue her softball and academic careers. Trine is an NCAA Division III school located in Angola. Front, from left – Delilla  Hackworth, Jordyn’s mother; Jordyn; Dave Hackworth, Jordyn’s father. Back – Debbie Stewart, Jordyn’s grandmother; Scott Stewart, Jordyn’s grandfather.

Jordyn Hackworth has had a busy time picking schools.

First, she had to figure out where she was going to go to high school for her senior year. Then, she had to pick where she was going to go to college.

Hackworth, who spent her first three years of high school at North Miami, picked Rochester for high school and Trine University for college.

Trine University is an NCAA Division III school located in Angola.

Hackworth described Trine coach Donnie Danklefsen as “very outgoing” and “very nice.” She said it “clicked” when she met him.

“The coaches were a good fit with me, and they’re ranked number one in the nation, so that was definitely a big factor,” Hackworth said. “Their coaching aligned with how I want my coaches to act, and their personal life was very fitting with mine.”

Hackworth plays for the Texas Glory 18-and-under travel team. Her teammates on that team include Aubrey Miller and Bria Rensberger, who are also two of her new teammates at Rochester.

She said the Trine coaches saw her play at a travel tournament, and they contacted her travel ball coaches to tell them they were interested. They gave the travel coaches their email address and asked Hackworth to send them an email, and Hackworth followed up the request.

Hackworth said she received “a lot” of interest from colleges and described the recruiting process as “time-consuming” and “stressful.”

Hackworth said the two big decisions she had to make in short order were unrelated.

“I don’t think they’re, like, necessarily related,” Hackworth said. “I just think that’s just how my life went. I just moved, and then I chose a college that was the best fit for me.”

Hackworth said a guidance counselor at North Miami told her she did not have a “pathway” to graduate and that the guidance counselor told her she had to “figure that out.”

“I just moved the day before school started,” Hackworth said.

Asked if she had no choice but to leave North Miami, she said "not necessarily.”

“They could have had a waiver, which would cost money for the school,” Hackworth said. “But I think overall, I fit in great at Rochester. I don’t regret any decisions I made.”

Hackworth is known for being speedy and versatile defensively, able to play both shortstop and center field. Offensively, Hackworth said she reads the defense from the batters box and can determine whether she needs to bunt, slap or hit away.

“Every coach I’ve talked to just talked about my athleticism and how I can play any position, and that’s a great quality to have,” Hackworth said.

Hackworth said she has played softball since she was 5 and travel ball since she was 9. She said she has had “ups and downs” with the sport.

“I guess it’s just mentally challenging to play a sport your whole life,” Hackworth said. “I was very dedicated at a young age, and so my whole life has been dedicated to this sport, and it’s felt like sometimes that’s my only life is softball.”

Hackworth said she wants to study exercise science for three years and physical therapy for another three years with plans on being a physical therapist.