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Nessa McMillen, a standout 2024 utility player from Blair, Nebraska, was a Class B All-Stater last year after batting .451 with 14 doubles, 40 runs scored and 38 RBI as she led Blair High to a 3rd place finish in State.
Despite offers to place a several places out of state, the current junior feels like she found the perfect place to compete at the next level: for the Nebraska Cornhuskers in the Big Ten. Conveniently, she’ll be attending college just about an hour south of home, as you can hit Lincoln—home of the “Huskers—with a pretty straight shot down the I-80.
But, while conveniently close to where she’s starred in high school, Nessa says the University of Nebraska at Lincoln was the perfect fit for several reasons.
“What stood out to me about Nebraska was their engineering buildings,” the student-athlete says. “They are currently building a $120 million project for a new building. They have a great education system at Nebraska and the softball team is very focused on success in the classroom.”
B1G time commitment from @nessamcmillen to stay home! Congratulations to Nessa and her family on her recent commitment to @HuskerSoftball in the B1G 10! @ExtraInningSB @HFLfastpitch @thealliancefp pic.twitter.com/mGQ5GxMY0G
— Aces Softball (@Aces_SoftballKC) January 5, 2023
Her mother adds that it wasn’t as much geography as other boxes the program checked.
“Nessa just wanted to make sure they contained a few key things like accredited academics, athletics and a supportive fan base and atmosphere,” the athlete’s mom explains. “As she got to know UNL and their amazing softball coaches, she realized Nebraska was where she wanted to be—home!”
And her family was impressed at how the teenager deal with all the pressure that comes with making the college choice.
“We are very proud of Nessa in all her accomplishments and growth not only as a softball player,” her mother continues, “but also having the opportunity to watch her grow throughout her recruiting process. It is not easy for a teenager to have difficult conversations with coaches and academic advisors, yet she continued to impress us by overcoming some of the challenges and fears that came with it.”
Another interested party is Nessa’s high school varsity coach, Jennifer Flangmeier, who has worked with the athlete going back to when she was just starting out in the sport and has coached her the last three years in high school.
“I have had the pleasure of watching Nessa grow as an athlete since she was in elementary school where she was attending our youth camps and putting extra work to make the best version of herself,” remembers Coach Flangmeier.
“It has been exciting to watch her grow as a player, and a leader,” Coach Flanmeier continues. “Nessa leads by example on the field, maintains a high academic standing and is inclusive with others around her.”
“She is constantly striving to improve, focuses on the small details, and works towards individual and team goals. Nessa has helped shaped the culture of Blair Softball and she will be an excellent addition to the Husker roster and will do just the same there. She is physically and mentally strong, is an instinctual baserunner, is incredibly consistent, and will be one of the hardest workers on and off the field. We are excited to watch her career and success as a Husker!”
Here’s more on this do-it-all player…
Name: NESSA McMILLEN
Hometown/ST: Blair, Nebraska
Grad Year: 2024
Position(s): C/IF/OF
Club Team: Aces Fastpitch
High School (City/ST): Blair High School, NE
GPA: 4.0
College: Nebraska
Preferred College Major: Engineering
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What accomplishments both personal and team are you most proud of over your years of playing softball?
One of my proudest accomplishments was hitting three home runs in one game my sophomore season for high school.
I had tied the state record alongside many great players. It was in the Lincoln tournament against Norris. It also happened to be on my dad’s birthday and one of his favorite memories.
My most proud moment as a team was earning third at state this year. It was a huge milestone for us being a small-town school who usually doesn’t make it very far in the post season.
What’s been your most memorable softball experience?
One of my most memorable experiences was the Aces team trip to the Birmingham Thunderbolts Invite. I had a lot of fun staying with my teammates and we faced some really good competition.
What would you say are your strengths on the field?
I would say my greatest strengths are baserunning IQ and my versatility. I like to hit home runs, get base hits and bunt. Along with that, I can play almost every position on the field.
As you near your last high and final club seasons, are there any goals you have set to achieve before going off to college?
One of my goals for my high school season is to be really dominant at the plate and be a leader in the infield. In my last two seasons of club, I want to keep getting better, but also enjoy my time with my teammates before I leave.
What was the most difficult thing about the recruiting process prior to making a verbal commitment?
One of the most difficult things about my recruitment was being very picky and having some hard conversations about the future. I met some great people along the way and I got really close with them, so saying goodbye was tough.
Were there other colleges you were interested in? What stood out to you about Nebraska?
I was interested in Iowa State, North Texas, Texas A&M and Creighton University and nother thing that stood out was the benefits that the athletes get. The training table is a huge benefit as well as all of the resources given like academic advisors, sport supervisors, psychologists, nutritionists, and more. The coaches at Nebraska are amazing and have had great success in the past. Lastly, they made me feel and home and that they cared about me as a person, not just a recruit.
What’s been your favorite place you’ve played softball?
My favorite place to place softball is a tie between Denver, Colorado and Clearwater, Florida. I loved going to Pikes Peak and the mountains in Colorado, but also love the beaches at Clearwater.
Are there any obstacles you’ve had to overcome in your life? How do you think they helped you as an athlete pursuing playing at D1 collegiate level?
The biggest obstacle I’ve had to make in my career was transitioning into the Aces. I was on a regional team out of Omaha and decided I wanted to push myself more, so I went to the Aces. I got a reality check very fast and realized I wasn’t as good as I thought and that I won’t play every inning of every game anymore.
I went into a long slump and lost all of my confidence. I finally broke out of it this fall when I started going to hitting lessons with Coach Ryan Taylor. He pushed me and made me uncomfortable to make me better and it paid off.
The first tournament in 18U last Fall, I was the leadoff hitter and started at third base, catcher and in the outfield. That’s when I realized that all of my struggles and long days had paid off. This will help me for collegiate softball because everything is moving faster, girls are stronger, and pitchers are a lot better. I know it will be another huge adjustment, but I have the confidence that I can do it because I’ve been through it once before.
If you could have dinner with anyone… living or dead… who would it be? And why?
I would want to have a conversation with my Grandpa. He passed away from cancer before I was born, and he always had a passion for baseball. I’ve always been told that me and him both are stubborn and ornery. I really wish I could’ve met him and had him see my success as a player.
Favorite school subject?
My favorite subject is Math.
What drives you to play the game of softball?
I strive for the feeling of success when you know you’ve gave it your all. The relationships along the way also pushes me to keep going when things are hard.
What do you think it means to be a good teammate and who do you think has been the best teammate?
I think being a good teammate means you are willing to do whatever the team needs and play different roles. You aren’t always going to be the star player, so being able to accept that you have to find other ways to make a difference is huge.
One of the best teammates I have had was Makayla Baughman. I played basketball with her freshman year and she was always a good teammate and so supportive even when she was having a bad game.
Do you have a quote you live by or use to inspire you?
I really like the quote “you are your own worse enemy” because it reminds me that I can do anything if I put my mind to it.
— Joy Roeder, Extra Inning Softball correspondent