Six hours of class, four hours of practice, in-home batting cage work, a three-mile run then a couple of hours of homework. Sounds like a lot of activity for one person, but it’s an everyday routine for Santa Rosa Junior College Bear Cub softball pitcher and shortstop Megan Winters.

Since starting softball at age 5, Winters has learned how to balance sports and school. Her dedication to both comes from her devotion to being the best on and off the field. Winters said her strict parents helped her develop a strong work ethic. “I had to do really good in school before sports,” she said.

After playing four years of varsity softball at Analy High School, Winters wasn’t sure what she wanted to do next. Despite a few Division 1 school offers, Winters chose SRJC’s softball team and nursing program.

As a student athlete, Winters set priorities between school, work and sports.

“I’m studying to become a nurse and that comes before softball. I have to get A’s not B’s, so that cuts into the time to work on the little things outside of practice. When I have free time, I get extra work on my batting in my batting cage. I don’t go out every night of the week; I have to manage my time around sports, school, work and friends,” Winters said.

While the primary focus is school, Winters is still dedicated to being the best athlete she can be.

Winters attributes her success to the amount of work she puts in. She goes home after four-hour team practices and continues to practice every day at her batting cage there.

“I want to be one of the best; I’m so competitive I don’t like not being one of the best,” Winters said.

Not just a tremendous athlete, Winters is also a devoted teammate. Bear Cub catcher Megan Stroud has caught for Winters since they were young. “I love catching Megan. She throws a really good change up and a good screwball. She’s a really good teammate who always makes sure everyone is having fun and keeps the girls upbeat; dancing and singing during games and practices,” Stroud said.

Winters’ competitive spirit led her to have an important role in turning around the Bear Cubs’ softball program. “I wanted to start a program. I knew I could make a difference because I am a three-way player with my pitching, hitting and my defense. I knew if I went to the JC other good players would want to go there, and I knew if I worked hard I could get more offers from schools,” Winters said.

Where does Winters’ competitive spirit come from? Having two older sisters who both had softball scholarship offers from Sonoma State helped push Winters since she was in T-Ball.

“I had two older sisters who both played softball at Analy High School, and we lived right across the street from a softball field. I wanted to be not just as good as them but better,” Winters said.

Winters’ older sisters set a precedent that being average was not good enough, and Winters is meeting those expectations.