Who is she? Amanda Nikhazy, a former infielder for the Stetson Hatters.
What’s she known for?Nikhazy played sparingly during her two years at Stetson, making nine starts and twenty-five total apperances over two years. She hit her first Division I home run as a senior in 2019. Nikhazy began her playing career at Daytona State CC, earning all-conference honors as a sophomore and finishing her two-year stint with 67 hits and 56 RBIs to her credit.
Here’s something interesting…Nikhazy and her two brothers, Doug and TJ, all played collegiate diamond sports. In addition to her own softball career, Doug played baseball at Ole Miss and now pitches in the Cleveland Indians’ organization and TJ plays collegiate baseball at Wheeling University.
When talking about her family, Nikhazy also made this note: “Everyone in my family is 100% (athletically and writing) left-handed except my dad! Four out of five… my brother Doug, my brother TJ, my mom, and myself!”
Quotable quote: “My favorite memory is probably different from most athletes, but when I look back on my time as a softball player, the thing that brings me most joy is the honest, wholesome and lifelong friendships I made along the way. Sports always meant so much more to me than just the stuff on the field. I would not be the person I am today without the principles, values and confidence I gained throughout my playing career.”
What’s she up to now?After graduating from Stetson with a degree in communications, Nikhazy now works as a graduate student in the Ole Miss athletic department. She works in the sports productions department which, she says, “includes shooting, editing and producing short and long form documentaries, social media cuts, and interviews.”
She also hosts her own motivational podcast called “Make it Happen”, which includes discussing her own life experiences and guests who share their own successful stories. In early November, she was selected as Miss Oxford USA 2022 and will compete in the 2022 Miss Misssissippi USA Pageant in March.
Keep up: You can follow Nikhazy on Twitter and Instagram under the handle @amandanikhazy, and her Make it Happen podcast on Instagram @makeithappen.podcast.
