Clarion Sports Editor

Jessica Williams is trading one-sport athlete status at the University of Southern Indiana for two-sport athlete status at Oakland City University.

The 20-year-old Princeton Community grad confirmed Monday night that she'll withdraw from USI when the fall semester ends in December, and begin OCU classes when the spring semester begins in January.

"It's time for a change for me, personally," said Williams, who as a freshman saw action in 14 of USI's 30 games, averaging 0.9 points for a team that posted a 20-10 record and reached NCAA Division II Great Lakes Regional play. The Lady Eagles include ex-Gibson Southern guard Leah Stormont, now in preseason practice as a sophomore.

"To me, this isn't about leaving USI. It's about entering Oakland City University. The education curriculum is great, it's close to home, the basketball program is going in the right direction, and I'll get back to playing softball after missing that sport as a freshman."

The 5-foot-10 lefthander, whose 1,028 basketball points at Princeton rank sixth in Gibson County distaff history, said she informed USI Coach Rick Stein last Tuesday or her decision. She and her parents, Mark and Pam Williams of Patoka, visited OCU on Thursday, meeting with Lady Oaks Coach Clint Weddle.

She won't play for USI this semester, but plans to play at OCU in January after second-semester classes begin. Her OCU debut could come January 6 against Kentucky Wesleyan, USI's Great Lakes Valley Conference archrival, or January 11 against Brescia. Both games will be played in Johnson Center.

"We're excited about getting a local player who had the career Jessica had at Princeton, and who is a good person from a good family," said Weddle, in his first year as Lady Oaks coach after a standout playing career with the Mighty Oaks.

"Coach Malin (assistant coach Matt Malin) saw Jessica play in high school. He and people in the community speak highly of her. We saw Thursday how well she blends in with our girls."

Williams telephoned Weddle to ask if the Lady Oaks would be interested in her as a player. Her campus visit was arranged after she received an official release from USI, where she is on basketball scholarship.

"Katie and Emily Miller and Liz Geltmaker were among my AAU teammates with the River City Rockers," Williams said, referring to three current Lady Oaks.

"I enjoyed meeting with them and the rest of the girls who will be my teammates. They were very accepting of me, even though I'll be joining the team after the season starts.

"I haven't yet talked with Coach Buchta (OCU softball coach Patti Buchta), but Mr. Weddle said he called her and was told the softball team can use another outfielder."

After averaging 15.3 points, 4.1 rebounds and 2.0 steals in her Princeton senior basketball season, when she earned all-county honor a third straight year, Williams batted .343 with 3 homers, 22 RBIs and 14 steals in 15 tries in softball. She made all-county in that sport and graduated with 12 athletic letters, four each in basketball, softball and volleyball.

"Mr. Hauger (Princeton softball coach Steve Hauger) has wanted me to play college softball," Williams said. "He said I was just getting into my prime as a senior."

The sister of 2004 PCHS valedictorian Adam Williams, now playing football at Rose-Hulman, Jessica Williams was and is an honor student. Last spring she earned Academic All-GLVC status.

Planning to major in exercise science when she began college, Williams soon switched to elementary education.

"I realized I want to be in education. I want to teach and also coach basketball," she said.

"Next week I'll start observation and classroom teaching at Lowell. Linda Barton - her daughter Whitney is my roommate after we played basketball and volleyball together in high school - is the teacher who will supervise me.

"I'll be at Lowell two days a week. I also want to go to OCU to watch basketball practice as often as possible, so that I'll be familiar with the system when I can start playing.

"Though I'm not with the USI team, I'm still working out and playing basketball with Ryan (boyfriend and former Gibson Southern point-guard Ryan Karaff). He pushes me really hard."

Williams will also make a coaching debut. "Dad is coaching the fifth grade girls' team that Princeton is starting," his daughter said. "I'll help him.

"All the driving from Evansville to Princeton and Oakland City and back - these gas prices kind of stink. But I'm anxious to do all these things and really anxious to play basketball and softball again."