Holly Heacock Earns College Student-Athlete Honor

There’s always talk about what it means to be a student-athlete but only those who truly take on the challenge and actually live the lifestyle can understand the sacrifices required. Holly Heacock joined six of her Atlantic Cape Community College softball teammates in earning National Junior College Athletic Association Superior Academic Achievement Awards this spring.
The 20-year-old Court House resident patrolled the outfield and second base for the Buccaneers while earning a superb 3.98 grade point average. The daughter of Hank and Diane Heacock, Holly was home-schooled from kindergarten through 12th grade and will continue her higher education studies thanks to the Midway Scholar Honors tuition-paid program offered by East Tennessee University.
“I knew I’d be struggling with debt for a long time if I decided to attend a university for four plus years,” said Heacock, a history major with a minor in secondary education. “The 61 credits I earned at Atlantic Cape really helped me get started.”
An avid reader and pianist, Heacock said the Academic Achievement honor came as a surprise. “There are so many smart and talented student-athletes out there and out of all of them I was chosen,” she said. “It just goes to show how dedication and love for the game and for learning can pay off in the end.”
Like many youngsters, Heacock started with tee-ball and then fell in love with the game of softball. She also played basketball as a high school freshman. “Softball is a competitive sport, but it’s also fun,” she said. “I’ve made many close friends with teammates over the years. When I got to college I couldn’t imagine not playing softball. The decision came naturally.”
Heacock, along with siblings Hank, Amy, Michelle, Jessica and David, is long accustomed to juggling rigorous academics with activities and employment. She’s been babysitting since for multiple families since 8th grade and also works at Harbor Bike and Beach Shop and Pete Smith’s Surf Shop, both in Stone Harbor. “It’s tough, but you’ve got to have a schedule and you’ve got to stick to it,” she said.
Her hard work has allowed her to succeed in the classroom and at the plate. She came out of high school as a better than .300 hitter but her average rocketed to .400 as a collegian.
“I’ve learned to hold off on rise balls and screwballs and wait for the right pitch,” said Heacock. “The competition in community college softball is real. Some people think its just junior college but there are some really good teams and players in the NJCAA.”
Atlantic Cape’s softball coach is Sean Thomas, a part-time criminal justice teacher at the school. “Holly is very versatile,” he said. “She was able to play infield, outfield and even pitch for us at times. She has a calm demeanor and is able to stay poised in pressure situations. Her teammates could lean on her.”
Thomas said he will miss his sophomore team leader because of “her balance and consistent frame of mind each day at practice and/or games. She is a role model and takes on a mentoring and leadership position through her own hard work.”
Heacock admitted that the grueling schedule of an outdoor spring sport can be taxing on the classroom and other interests. Mother Nature victimized the Buccaneer on several occasions that forced the squad to schedule multiple doubleheaders in a week. “In high school we had maybe three games in a week, but in college there could be up to five doubleheaders in a single week,” said Heacock. “Some weeks are pretty hectic. We rained out several games in March and early April so the team had to keep up with multiple doubleheaders and five classes. It occurred to me that I have more free time when I work two summer jobs than when I’m playing softball and taking classes.”
Heacock, who hopes to someday teach high school or college history courses, has good advice for aspiring collegiate athletes, especially community college competitors who must often juggle employment and family duties with sports. “It takes lots of studying, practice and strict time management,” she said. “Being a student-athlete calls for dedication to your studies and to your team. It may seem harmless to skip that early morning class or that late afternoon practice because you’re tired, but don’t give in to that.”