Kamehameha’s Millwood To Play For Stanford University
By Jack Danilewicz
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Jamie Millwood had built up a good image of Stanford University through the years. After making her first trip to the Palo Alto campus last spring on an unofficial visit, she realized that her faith in a place she knew of, but had not yet seen, was justified.
“It was everything I’d hoped for and more,” said Millwood, who recently accepted a scholarship offer to play for the Cardinals.“The campus is beautiful, and knowing the caliber of school that is ... it’s just a really nice place to be.”
And academically sound, of course. Millwood also is a gifted student in keeping up with the Stanford tradition, but it was softball that attracted her long before she was a team leader for Kamehameha, where she will be playing out her senior season at first or third base.
“When I was in elementary school - fourth or fifth grade - I would watch the softball world series on TV with my mom and dad. It seemed like a place I wanted to be.”
Millwood revealed her decision to go to Stanford on the NCAA’s early-signing day of Nov. 11 at Honolulu Design Center. A longtime member of the Guava Jam Softball Club, she is one of five Mililani area student-athletes from the club to sign letters of intent with Division I schools. Also signing that day were teammates Kristi Oshiro (Mililani, for East Carolina), Courtney Senas (Mililani/Florida State) and Rebecca Lee (Mililani/East Carolina). Rika Pantohan of Campbell also signed with Hawaii.
“I’ve been playing with the club since I was 12, and we’ve all kind of grown together,” Millwood said. “Kristi and I have been playing together the longest. The club has provided me with a lot of knowledge. Every summer, we would travel to the Mainland for tournaments, too, and that gave us a lot of exposure (to college coaches).”
Her studies aside, softball has been an all-consuming activity for Millwood, she admitted.“I’ve had a love for this game since I can remember. It’s always challenged me. I’ve learned a lot from the sport about self-discipline andperseverance - things that can’t be taught as well elsewhere.
“Like any sport, it can be challenging when you’re learning, but it came more easily to me than other sports. I played baseball, too, and integrating (the skills learned) both of those helped me.”
As at Kamehameha and with Guava Jam, Millwood will play first or third base at Stanford.
Currently, she’s working out in preparation for her season with the Warriors.
“I’m more trying to get in shape right now. My dad (former Mililani head football coach James Millwood) keeps me on track with weight training and cardiovascular (workouts).”
Millwood has attended Kamehameha for the past 13 years and is used to a long commute to school most days, but she wouldn’t have it any other way, although she usually is up at 5:15 a.m. (departing the house at 5:45) and doesn’t return until 7 p.m. during softball season.
She had other scholarship offers, and considered joining Oshiro and Lee at East Carolina until she was officially accepted to Stanford. “They contacted me my junior year, but when I was accepted, that’s when I knew I was going to Stanford. Nothing is guaranteed, but I had a good feeling throughout the process.”
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