Family, teammates, friends, coaches, and staff gathered on Monday to celebrate a special moment as Meredith Deaton officially signed to continue her academic and athletic career at Taylor University, where she will play softball at the next level. It was a proud day for Meredith and everyone who has supported her journey.
Meredith has worked hard in the classroom while preparing for a future in the medical field. She is part of West Washington’s Healthcare Pathway and is currently enrolled in the CNA program. Each morning she spends the first two periods gaining hands-on experience at a local nursing home. After passing her exam at the end of April, she will become a Certified Nursing Assistant. With the support of her teachers, including Mr. Eisele, she feels ready for college and the next step in her education. Meredith shared, “The healthcare pathway has been very beneficial to me and my future, considering I want to go into the healthcare field, specifically as a Physician Assistant.”
Athletics have also played a major role in Meredith’s high school career. She competed in basketball and softball all four years; volleyball her freshman year; cross country her sophomore year; cheer during her freshman and sophomore years; and golf her junior and senior years. Her accomplishments are outstanding. In basketball, she earned All-Conference honors three consecutive years, scored over 1,000 career points, and broke multiple school records. She was also named All-Conference twice in softball and earned All-Conference honors in golf her senior year.
“Meredith has been a blessing to have as a part of our softball program. She has grown into a leader, shown incredible resilience, and has the determination of a warrior. There has never been a day that she didn't give her all for the name on the front of the jersey. She shines on and off the field and will have the ultimate impact on the Taylor softball team next season. They are getting an incredible student-athlete, who will dedicate the time to her craft to ensure the growth of their program. She will leave it better than she found it, the exact way that she has done for the Senator Softball program.” - WW Head Softball Coach, Brittney Powers
Outside of school, Meredith was involved in the Washington County Youth Foundation, where she participated in community service projects and connected with students from other county schools. These experiences helped her grow as a leader and strengthened her heart for serving others.
At Taylor University, Meredith will major in Human Physiology and Preventive Medicine on the pre-Physician Assistant track while continuing her softball career. She is also considering a minor in leadership. After earning her undergraduate degree, she plans to attend Physician Assistant school. She chose Taylor for more than softball. The opportunity to grow her faith while playing the sport she loves made her decision clear. As she said, “Every time I have been on campus it has always truly felt like home to me.”
Meredith is a driven young woman who has committed herself to high goals and chasing her dreams. That journey has come with challenges and sacrifice. She has balanced a demanding class schedule while traveling across the country to compete in high-level tournaments. She has trained tirelessly and is currently battling back from a serious knee injury. At times, some may wonder if all the hard work was worth it. Her father, Matthew Deaton, shared a powerful moment when he asked her that very question:
“I woke up one morning with this very question weighing heavily on my mind. So I decided to wake Meredith up at 5:30 in the morning and ask her, Meredith, I’ve got to know, was it all really worth it? All the work, all the sacrifice, the knee injury — was it worth it?”
Meredith answered simply, “Yeah, Dad, it was worth it.”
Meredith is a great athlete, but she is an even better leader and teammate. Her faith, character, and work ethic show in everything she does. She has earned this opportunity through years of hard work and dedication, and West Washington is incredibly proud of her.
