Mandee Michielsen’s smile is unforgettable to say the least. But Cornerstone would have missed out on the junior transfer’s brilliant smile if not for her wanting to play again.

Michielsen, who recorded a .524 batting average and 11 hits during spring training in Arizona, decided she missed softball, and because she knew a few girls on Cornerstone’s team, she decided to try out for it.

“I didn’t know where I wanted to go to school,” Michielsen said. “I wasn’t recruited to play softball anywhere or anything. I decided I’ll just go to school, and I really wasn’t planning on playing softball.”

Farrell has seen Michielsen’s growth and her transition and maturing into a young woman since the time she has transferred in.

“Mandee is someone that I am extremely proud of,” Farrell said. “She has made some enormous strides in the years she has been here, and you could tell she was a hard worker but had a very low self-concept of her own ability. She pushed herself, but to a point that the stress was almost too much.”

Farrell saw her desire to improve and how she handled the pressure and worked through the ups and downs to better herself through the years.

“Between that first and second year, she really began to work hard in the weight room,” Farrell said. “Taking care of other things in life, she just matured significantly. She came back last year and became a pretty major contributor for us.”

Michielsen did not know much about CU, but softball was no longer her only reason for attending the school.

Michielsen transferred from Grand Rapids Community College to Cornerstone University after only a semester and, she did not miss a season of softball.

“I didn’t know a lot about the school,” Michielsen said. “I came here because I wanted to play softball. Now when I look back I couldn’t imagine myself anywhere else or what my life would be like if I hadn’t been here the past couple years.”

Farrell sees how much time she puts into conditioning for the season and is amazed by it. He also has seen the growth she has had since he moved her up to the leadoff hitter.

“She came back this season and worked like crazy,” Farrell said. “I’ve been impressed with her and getting herself ready to play, and since she’s became our leadoff hitter, she’s just came alive, and just did a great job for us.”

Michielsen can see the difference the Christian environment provides for the teams and could not see herself anywhere else.

“I’ve always been a Christian,” Michielsen said. “Always been a believer. I just know that in the past couple years I’ve grown so much, just because I’m here. I know if I wouldn’t have transferred here and just went on with everything, I probably would be in a different spot in my life, especially in my faith.”

Farrell had remembered seeing her play, but it was her smile that caught his attention, and when he met her again that was how he remembered her. He also expects leadership from her during her last two seasons on the team.

“God has proven himself strong on her behalf this year in many areas of her life and has met many needs on many different levels,” Farrell said. “I think she is really coming into her own, and she will be a team leader for her last two years on the team.”

Michielsen’s faith has grown stronger being here, and though many people say it is the environment that they love most about Cornerstone, she could not help but agree with that reason.

“I like the atmosphere,” Michielsen said. “When I think about the other schools, like when we go to other schools for away games, like Indiana Tech, you can tell the difference between not only the team, but how they are with each other and how they interact. I know it’s cliché to say that, but it really is true, and there are a lot of people around here that care for you.”