DULUTH — Most athletes describe their college careers going by in a blur, but with Minnesota Duluth softball player Jordyn Thomas, it’s the other way around.
It seems like Thomas has been at UMD forever.
“That’s not the first time I’ve heard that,” Thomas said, laughing. “It’s been a long ride. There’s been a lot of twists and turns, but I’ve loved every minute of it.”
Thomas, 22, is a 2017 Hermantown High School graduate.
Before the 2020-21 school year, Thomas made the decision to take advantage of the extra year of eligibility granted by the NCAA due to COVID canceling her 2020 softball season.
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“It was hard to decide,” Thomas said. “I went back and forth a lot with it, talking with my family and figuring out what was going to be my story, but ultimately, I wanted to play more softball. I only have so many years playing the game that I love, so if I’m able to, why not stay another year?”
And what a year it’s been.
Thomas became UMD’s all-time home runs leader earlier this season and now has 48 for her career. Among other records, her career slugging percentage of .654 is on pace to top the .638 of Angie Macioce (1995-98), but home runs … that one is tough to top.
The previous home run record holder, Jordan Rice (2012-15), sent her a video congratulating her.
“Just hearing from an alum, after you beat their record, and how proud they are of you, was a really amazing experience,” Thomas said. “That was kind of the big one, where I knew I was close. That was kind of a goal of mine. But with this fifth year, stats aside, just have fun with my teammates and keep playing the game that I love, and enjoy doing it. Whatever else comes with that will just be icing on the cake.”
Thomas leads UMD (23-10 overall, 8-4 NSIC) this season with a .336 batting average and six home runs. She is tied for the team lead with six doubles and is second with 25 RBIs.
If Thomas had a fault, according to first-year UMD coach Lynn Anderson, it’s that she sometimes puts too much pressure on herself.
“For her, she just needs to relax in that moment and keep it simple,” Anderson said. “If she can do that, she’ll put the ball in play consistently really well.”
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The Bulldogs have moved Thomas around the batting order in an effort to help her realize she doesn’t have to carry the offensive load herself.
“Trying to balance between wanting to do my job for the team and wanting to go out there and have fun,” Thomas said. “Softball is a tough game. It’s very mentally challenging and it can get the best of you. When you’re doing great, it’s the best game in the world. When you’re struggling a bit, things can get hard. I’m just trying to get back in the swing of things and get my mindset back on track and just go out there and compete.”
Thomas, who played basketball in addition to softball early in her career at UMD, is from an athletic family with strong ties to the Bulldogs. Father Mike Thomas was an All-American offensive lineman for UMD and mother Kelli (Ritzer) Thomas received NSIC honors four times in basketball and three times in softball and is a member of the UMD Athletic Hall of Fame. Older brother Jared played center for the Bulldogs’ men’s hockey team from 2014-18, uncle Cory Thomas, lettered in baseball and football at UMD and her late grandfather, Ron Thomas, played football from 1954 to 1957 at UMD.
Jordyn Thomas will graduate in May with degrees in biology and psychology. She maintains a 3.86 grade-point average. She plans on attending the University of Minnesota in the fall to continue her career path of being a nurse practitioner.
As it turns out, that decision to come back for one more year, just like Thomas’ career, has been a home run.
“I made that decision, and it’s been great,” Thomas said. “It feels like I’ve been here forever, but I’ve enjoyed every minute I’ve been able to be a Bulldog. It’s kind of sad that it’s coming to an end here, but I’m proud of my story that I wrote.”
