CORVALLIS, Ore. – Heading into the 2020-21 year, 24 student-athletes were named to the Cascade Collegiate Conference Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), representing their schools.
Taelor Mayben is one of the two reps at Southern Oregon University. The senior softball player chose SOU not only for its education, but also the softball program’s legacy.
“SOU has a great program for elementary education which is what I have always had a passion for doing,” said Mayben. “I ultimately chose SOU because of the softball program. Coach [Jessica] Pistole has created what truly feels like a family atmosphere. I could tell this program was a safe and special place and that's exactly what it has been. I love this campus and I love its athletic department.”
SOU has established itself as an elite program in the NAIA, winning its first national championship in 2019, and Mayben knows it takes hard work to get to that level.
“Some demands of being a student-athlete include late nights studying, early morning workouts, limited social and personal time, and a lot of time management and organization,” said Mayben.
While the 2020 softball season was unfortunately cut short due to the pandemic, Mayben is still adjusting to everything COVID-19 has brought.
“I think the weirdness of it all is what I am still trying to adjust to (the masks, social distancing, etc.),” said Mayben. “The biggest way COVID-19 has affected my day-to-day is how it has limited the opportunities for me to get to be around my coaches and teammates and share the field with them.”
The infielder loved winning the NAIA Championship, but doesn’t count it as her biggest accomplishment at SOU.
“The greatest experience by far has been just meeting my best friends/teammates and working hard with them to reach the levels and goals we set out for,” said Mayben. “Even though we're together 24/7 our team cannot get enough of each other. Having sleepovers with teammates, going out to dinner with them, and just enjoying the city of Ashland together are some of my favorite ways to spend the little amount of off days/times we have. Winning a National Championship with them in 2019 was just the icing on the cake.”
It’s that community that SOU has provided for Mayben that she enjoys the most, especially the role models she has found.
“Our University is very proud of the community around it,” said Mayben. “The softball program in particular has been blessed with some of the best people who have supported us in ways that we could never have asked. People like Matt Sayre, Bobby Heiken, Mike Beagle, Kristy Johnson, and Josh McDermott have all worked really hard to give our team the best possible experience and it is greatly appreciated. Personally, Coach Pistole, Coach Cheyanne Bricker, Harlee Donovan, and our amazing athletic trainer Kristy Johnson have all become huge role models in my life and have given me female role models to trust, admire, and look up to.”
The elementary education major hopes to teach at the elementary level somewhere local in Southern Oregon.
“I also plan to stick around the sport and hopefully get a coaching opportunity somewhere along the line,” said Mayben.
When not on the softball field or studying, Mayben can be found working at Starbucks or spending time with her family close by.
“I am a barista at Starbucks and I absolutely love my job and my coworkers,” said Mayben. “I am a member at Cornerstone Christian Church which is where I spend my Sunday mornings with my family. Being a local athlete, I have a lot of family nearby and I enjoy spending lots of time with them.”
Mayben is another SAAC vet and looks to continue being a positive influence on her campus and at the conference level.
“I hope to get our student-athletes and programs more involved in our own community by finding creative ways to reach out and serve the place that has given us so much,” said Mayben.