UMKC Hall of Fame Spotlight - Amanda Rice
1/18/2010 11:00:00 AM | General, Softball, Athletics
by Dan Stroud
If taking a walk down memory lane has to include reliving days spent at the old Twin Oaks Apartments, UMKC Hall of Fame inductee and Kangaroo softball standout Amanda Rice would rather not. "No, no, I'd don't miss living there at all," she said, laughing. "There's a time and place for everything, and that structure is definitely best left in the past."
However, despite her misgivings about the old apartment complex that has since been replaced by the new and much improved Oak Street Apartments along with the Herman and Dorothy Johnson Hall next door, Rice insists there were still some good memories.
"Mostly we (she and other teammates) would just hang out and watch movies at the apartment," she said. "Other than that, you'd normally find us playing pickup basketball at Swinney Recreation Center."
The three time all-Mid-Continent Conference softball standout came to the UMKC campus with teammate Becky Burger from Carrollton, Mo. That fact is significant in and of itself when one is told that the small high school 70 miles northeast of Kansas City doesn't even have a softball team.
"We just played in summer leagues," said Rice. "UMKC gave me a great opportunity. I'm thankful to have been able to play there, not to mention getting a quality education."
The Kangaroos' career leader in four offensive categories including hits (201), doubles (47), runs batted in (97), and home runs (14), as well as the program's second most proficient fielder (219 putouts) is deserving of some adulation herself. Her dominance on the field from 1999-01 will never be easily forgotten.
When pressed about her most memorable experiences as part of the softball program, Rice cited her coach and teammates first. Former UMKC Head Softball Coach Galen Struve was at the top of her list.
"He was a coach who really taught me a lot about the fundamentals of the game," she said. "But more than that, he treated us all like part of his family. I'll never forget that."
This past fall Rice joked around with current Kangaroo head coach Meredith Smith about the long road trips her and the team endured in cramped 15 passenger mini-buses.Â
"She was telling me about the trips they take now in full size buses and the occasional plane trips," Rice said. "That would have been a dream come true for us!"
Her recollection was that the least favorite annual trips were to Youngstown, Ohio, and Valparaiso, Ind. "Those were some long rides, I can promise you," she said.
While in school in Kansas City, Rice studied business. The degree seems to have served the tax accountant well since her graduation. She later used it to propel herself to a master's in business administration.
"Early on, I was always undecided about what I should do with my education," she said. "But the business major was general enough for me and really gave me a solid foundation for the future. It's worked out pretty well so far."
The soon to be enshrined Kangaroo had nothing but positive things to say about the current direction of the university and the athletics department. Â Building and facility improvements aside, she said the emphasis on alumni involvement has been a refreshing change.
"The changes were not only good, they were necessary," Rice said. "The new administration led by Tim Hall [UMKC Director of Athletics] seems really focused on getting the alumni back onto the campus. I can't say enough good things about the direction they've taken."
As proof of that observation, Rice said she had already promised Smith she'd be out to root on the softball squad this spring.Â
"Meredith is awesome for the softball program," Rice exclaimed. "She's got my wholehearted support from here on out; that's a promise!"
The UMKC Athletics Hall of Fame induction ceremony will take place on Jan. 22 at the Downtown Marriott in Kansas City.
(This is the fourth of a seven-part series featuring the 2009 UMKC Athletics Hall of Fame class.)
Hall of Fame Features Dee Dee Johnson (Fortman) - Women's Track & Field Michael Jackson - Men's Basketball Julie (Nill) Wilson - Women's Basketball
Players Mentioned
