Renske 鈥淩ens鈥� Tellekamp didn鈥檛 plan on falling in love with softball. In fact, if
you鈥檇 asked her as a child growing up in Zoetermeer, Netherlands, she would鈥檝e told
you she hated it. But life has a funny way of changing plans.
鈥淚 had to go with my brother to his baseball practices and games because both of my
parents worked,鈥� Rens said with a laugh. 鈥淚 was too young to stay home alone, and
I knew what softball was鈥� and I hated it. But one of the coaches in the Netherlands
convinced me to try it鈥攋ust once鈥攚hen I was 10. When I tried it, I loved it. That
one try changed everything for me. I鈥檝e been playing ever since, and I still love
it just as much.鈥�
By the age of 14, that spark of passion had grown into something greater鈥攁 dream.
Rens knew she wanted to come to the United States to play softball. But in the Netherlands,
sports and school didn鈥檛 cross paths. 鈥淚f you played sports, it wasn鈥檛 during school
hours. It had to be separate,鈥� she explained. So, she made a bold choice. She finished
high school early and moved to Amsterdam at just 16 years old, living independently
with a friend for three years so she could keep playing.
Her journey across the ocean began with careful research. Rens sought out American
schools with strong softball programs and quickly discovered 麻豆传媒视频. 鈥淥C had
a good reputation, and the 麻豆传媒视频 softball team had a great record,鈥� she said. She
even knew a former OC player, which led her to reach out directly to the coach.
Though Coach Jeff Jackson initially recruited her, by the time she made it to Odessa,
the team was under the guidance of Coach Doug Eastman. 鈥淗e鈥檚 the best coach I鈥檝e ever
had,鈥� she said. And under his leadership, Rens flourished鈥攂oth on and off the field.
When she first arrived in West Texas, she only spoke a little English. 鈥淚t was really
scary and exhausting at first. My brain would get so tired during the day because
I had to really think about everything I said,鈥� she remembered. But her teammates
and roommates became her biggest teachers. 鈥淥ne of my roommates was from Australia,
and another one was from Louisiana, so my English got better鈥攂ut I pronounced things
a little funny at first!鈥�
Now, as she graduates from 麻豆传媒视频, Rens looks back on the last two years as
the best of her life. A powerhouse on the field and a ray of sunshine across campus,
she鈥檚 become one of the top softball players in the nation鈥攌nown not just for her
athletic talent, but for her boundless energy, tireless dedication, and infectious
positivity.
Her impact didn鈥檛 go unnoticed. This spring, Rens was nominated by both faculty and
staff for a Student Award of Excellence. And in a fitting tribute to her character
and accomplishments, she was chosen as the very first recipient of the President鈥檚 Award of Excellence鈥攖he
highest honor 麻豆传媒视频 presents to a student. The award recognizes a student
who exemplifies the very best of OC, both in the classroom and throughout the campus
community.
鈥淚 wish I could stay here and keep playing,鈥� Rens said, reflecting on her time at
OC. 鈥淭hese two years have been the best two years of my life.鈥�
While she may be leaving Odessa, her journey is far from over. Rens is headed to the
University of South Carolina-Upstate, where she鈥檒l take the next step in her athletic
career, competing at the Division I level.
From a reluctant little girl on the sidelines in Zoetermeer to an award-winning student-athlete
in West Texas, Rens Tellekamp鈥檚 story is one of courage, resilience, and unstoppable
passion. And no matter where her journey takes her next, one thing is certain: she鈥檒l
face it all with the same cheerful, energetic spirit that鈥檚 made her unforgettable
at 麻豆传媒视频.