Berkshire junior Whitney Davis didn’t just find her future college softball program—she found a home. The versatile standout announced her commitment to continue her academic and athletic career at Penn State University, where she will play first base and serve as a utility player for the Nittany Lions.
For Davis, making her decision early in her high school career is both exciting and reassuring.
“It’s awesome,” Davis said. “For me, it wasn’t the most stressful process, but it’s nice knowing that in two years, I have a home that I’m going to go to, and a place that I’m going to love to be at.”
Davis, who has played catcher, shortstop, and pitcher for Berkshire, will get the chance to focus on her favorite position at the next level.
“I’m a first baseman/utility player,” she said. “I’m excited because first base is my favorite position.”
Her decision to choose Penn State was about more than just softball. The academics, campus, and culture sealed the deal.
“I really liked the coaches there and I absolutely loved the campus there,” Davis said. “I’m from a smaller town, and so I am not a big fan of the huge city schools, like the schools that have skyscrapers or giant buildings there, so I really liked how it was more of like a small-town feel.”
The program’s values also resonated with her.
“I really like the culture there,” she said. “Their culture and family are huge there. For Penn State softball, family is one of their three core values. You have family, blue collar, and toughness, and so family is their number one core value. I also think that the academics there are huge, and the opportunities that I can get there as someone who wants to go into color commentating is incredible.”
Davis plans to major in Broadcast Journalism with a minor in Spanish, and she already has her eyes on opportunities beyond the diamond.
“For example, they have a player who’s going there right now. Her name is Michaela (Barbanente). She is working with the Big 10 Network, ESPN, and just a bunch of different networks right now as a senior, so she’s having those opportunities, and I feel like it’s great to have those opportunities, and that’s something I want to do for sure,” Davis said.
Penn State had been on Davis’ radar for years, and she had attended multiple camps on campus.
“I’ve been going to camp there for a couple of years now, and they called September 1 at midnight,” she said. “They were allowed to call at midnight, and that’s when I got the call.”
Her official visit in September sealed her decision.
“I had my official visit this past weekend, and I loved it there,” Davis said. “I received the offer and I took it. I committed right on the spot during our conversation in the coach’s office. I was so excited because I had really liked it there, and I hung out with the current players. I hung out with them the night prior, and we walked around and all that. I just felt like I belonged, and I felt like I was part of this big family, and the girls are so close together. I felt like I just belonged there, and it felt like home. I was overjoyed.”
At Berkshire, Davis has filled multiple roles. As a freshman, she pitched, caught, and played first base, then moved to shortstop while still pitching innings as a sophomore. This spring, she’s set to be the Badgers’ starting catcher while also seeing time at shortstop.
With her college choice behind her, Davis can now focus on helping Berkshire compete while preparing for her future in Happy Valley.
