Athletics

Finding Nebraska

N Our Voice by Kylee Magee

Finding Nebraska

As a kid, I couldn’t really find ‘my’ sport.

Maybe it was because I had six older brothers, and the last thing I wanted to do was play the same games they did.

I didn’t want to be like them.

But when my parents ‘forced’ me to go to a softball practice, I found something that I could truly call my own.

And I fell in love with the game.

I loved everything about it — the way I could compete and the feeling of striking someone out.

It’s such a competitive sport, and I love that intensity.

I’ve been dealing with a lingering injury for the last eight months that has held me back.

It felt like I was never able to be the player I knew I could be.

But when I found Nebraska, everything just clicked.

I knew this was where I was supposed to be.

Everything happens for a reason, and as I enter my first full season here with the Huskers, I’m just excited to have a fresh start.

A Fresh Start

I grew up in Anaheim, California.

And Arizona State was deeply embedded in my family’s fabric.

Three of my older brothers went to ASU, so I was constantly going to football games and grew up around the campus. It was always my dream to be a Sun Devil, and when I got the opportunity to play softball there, I jumped at it.

But things shifted when I got to college.

There was a coaching change that really affected me.

I never felt like I was the player I wanted to be at ASU.

So, I entered the transfer portal and then had a big decision to make.

Where was I going to go next?

I didn’t make the decision lightly.

I wanted to go somewhere that would help me grow as a player and help me succeed on and off the field.

As a fashion design major, I also needed to find a school that offered my major. That was one of the biggest things I had to consider when finding my next home.

When I started talking to Nebraska, I knew that this was the place for me.

The coaches had been watching me since I played travel ball in the seventh grade, and we started building a relationship over the years.

They knew my abilities, and I was comfortable with them.

I talked to them on the phone for a while and they just wanted to get to know me. They wanted to know about my family, my relationship with my parents and what kind of player I wanted to be.

It was so refreshing to have those types of conversations with them.

It was more than just about softball.

They were invested in me and my future.

Yet, I still didn’t fully understand the impact they would have on me.

The coaches have been everything I could have asked for and more. They’ve really pushed me in the classroom and have given me the support I need to succeed.

And they’ve also been patient with me as I’ve dealt with this injury.

As I continue to rehab, I’m just grateful to be at a place where I’m taken care of and supported.

Coming to Nebraska was the best decision I could have made, and I’m looking forward to finally being fully healthy and showing what I can do.

A Passion for Fashion

In addition to softball, fashion has always been a huge passion of mine.

I started drawing and sewing when I was seven years old, and I’ve just been obsessed with fashion ever since.

I love the entire process of coming up with an idea in my head and sketching it out on paper. Then, I can start to work on the pattern and bring my sketches to life.

I’ve even had the opportunity to design some prom dresses for a couple of friends. It’s such a special experience to have my designs go from an idea to something real, and it’s something I hope to do more of in the future.

I’m currently working on my own apparel line called After Show which I’m launching in October. My inspiration for the clothing line came from my experience as a student-athlete and knowing how important it is to be comfortable.

Student-athletes spend a lot of time in uncomfortable clothes, and I wanted to create a line that addressed their needs and kept them comfortable. I’m making sure to offer a variety of sizes, soft fabrics and looser fits to help athletes feel more at ease.

It’s been a goal of mine to create my own apparel line, and I couldn’t be more excited to see it come to life.

Building this whole thing has been a great distraction for me. It’s given me something to focus on while recovering from my injury, and it’s a great way for me to express myself and my creativity.

Excited for the Future

As I look ahead to my first full season at Nebraska, I’m just so excited to be here.

It’s been quite a journey to get here, but I know that everything happens for a reason.

I’m just grateful to be a part of the Husker family, and I can’t wait to see what my future holds.

On and off the field.