Hall of Fame
Jessie Johnson served as the catalyst for a UW-Parkside that put together one of the most impressive runs in school, and national, history. Leading off and playing second base, Johnson left her name all over the school and NCAA record books while stepping to the plate more times than any player in Ranger history.
Johnson earned two All-American honors and two All-Great Lakes Valley Conference selections as the school transitioned to the GLVC. During her time with the program, the Rangers posted a record of 222-41 (.844), the best four-year span the school has ever seen. The team was a fixture atop the national softball scene reaching the NCAA Division II World Series three straight years.
Upon induction, Johnson’s UW-Parkside record of 241 runs scored still stood as ninth all-time in Division II history. She scored 75 runs in 1996, the most in a single year by a Ranger and the seventh-best in NCAA history.
Her own success and durability led to her playing 260 career games, putting her 15th in the Division II record books. She recorded 870 career at-bats in her four years. Only three players in Division II history have stepped to the plate more than Johnson. In all she owns five school records and is in the top 15 in four categories nationally.
She was a four-time academic All-American and was active in many projects throughout her career including creating and publishing the team media guide and working tirelessly in fundraising and the building of the Case Softball Complex.
