Local athlete Prysm Gooding has signed with the University of Regina Cougars softball team as a left-handed pitcher — a major step forward in both her athletic and academic journey.
Gooding, who will pursue a combined Bachelor of Kinesiology and Education at the U of R, said she’s eager to grow as a player and eventually inspire the next generation of athletes.
“It’s a combined five-year degree and I get two majors out of it, so I’m really happy for that too,” she said. “You know, some people come home from their jobs and hate it. Well, I want to come home from my job and love it.”
The recruitment process began after she attended a pitching clinic in Weyburn hosted by the Cougars' coach.
“I found out in Weyburn that the U of R coach was coming to do a pitching clinic, and I thought, well, this would be a great opportunity to let her see me and see my potential as a pitcher,” she said. “I went to her for four Sundays and we just went from there. She invited me to her ID camp, and that’s when I got the news that I was committed to them.”
A standout season with the Weyburn Wild solidified her drive to keep climbing.
“I was pitching almost 58 miles per hour, and I was MVP of the Weyburn Wild,” she said. “That was probably my best year so far, and that’s where I hit my spark.”
Gooding is known as a multi-sport athlete — having also played badminton, soccer, water polo, football and basketball — but softball and basketball have remained her favourites. Through sport, she’s also developed a strong sense of leadership, both as an athlete and as a member of her school’s Student Representative Council.
“I think that’s one thing you need in life — and you need to be happy for what others accomplish too,” she said. “I was so happy that I made this team, and I’m so happy to take my leadership to their team and take it to the next level.”
Gooding is one of the nominees for the Young Visionary Award at the upcoming Women of Distinction Awards, in recognition of her contributions to both sport and community.
She credits her father as her biggest supporter.
“He has been by my side my whole life and has made sure that I’m always committed to my sport and education,” she said. “It’s very important to him that I succeed, so I’m really excited that he can come and watch me next year.”
Now that her next chapter is set, Gooding is looking forward to the increased competition and intensity of university play.
“Speed is a big thing in university as a pitcher,” she said. “Those girls can hit a ball — but can they hit a changeup that’s 48 miles per hour?”
She also encourages young athletes to advocate for themselves and take ownership of their paths.
“You can’t think that everything comes easy in life, and you can’t think your parents are going to do it,” she said. “You’ve got to email and you’ve got to phone and you’ve got to get into clinics and make yourself noticeable — not even on social media, but in the community.”
As a player and umpire, Gooding is deeply involved in Estevan’s minor softball scene — and she’s excited to see a growing wave of enthusiasm at the grassroots level.
“We are hosting some provincials here this year, so that’s a big thing in our community,” she said. “It boosts our environment and everything.”
Youth turnout has surged so much this season that the U13 and U15 divisions have each formed both A and B provincial-level teams.
“It’s going to be really intense,” she said. “I feel like they’re going to really succeed this year.”
That energy is a marked shift from the lull that followed the pandemic.
“It’s really amazed me this year,” she said. “Since COVID, no sport has had that spark with these kids. A lot of girls had to quit because there wasn’t anyone coaching or anyone wanting to go out and be with a big group of people.”
But she believes the tide has turned. “The whole community’s kind of getting back in the rhythm of everything,” she said. “It’s going to build those girls that have a strong connection with each other.”
Gooding hopes Estevan residents will come out to support both today’s players and tomorrow’s stars.