DeLand, Fla. - When
Nicole Edmiaston steps into the batter's box, the world around her fades away. She's not thinking about stats, the crowd, or the weight of the moment. Instead, she leans on the work she's put in.
"When I step in the box, I think to myself, I did the work, so why can't I be successful?" she said. "If I wasn't prepared, that's when I'd stress, but I don't feel any pressure or stress in the box because I know we did everything in our power to make sure I'd be successful in that situation."
That calm assurance has fueled one of the most outstanding offensive seasons in Stetson softball history. With 18 home runs, 57 RBIs, a .483 batting average, .557 on base percentage and a 1.000 slugging percentage, Edmiaston is on track to shatter several single-season records. Yet, it's not the numbers that drive her—it's something bigger.
"My goal, our goal, is to win the ASUN," she said. "I want that more than anything, so anything I can do to help us get there is great."
Her journey to this moment hasn't been linear. It's a story shaped by sacrifice, family support, and an unwavering belief that hard work pays off. From small-town Illinois to the spotlight at Stetson, Edmiaston has embraced every step along the way.
Growing up in Freeburg, Illinois, sports were at the center of everything.
"I come from a very small town, so sports is what drives the town," she said.
In high school, she quickly made a name for herself, earning Metro East Player of the Year honors as a junior and helping lead her team to a state runner-up finish.
"We made it to state, and I got Metro East Player of the Year my junior year, so that just made it even more fun," she said. "My coach was amazing. All the girls—it was just a family."
One moment from that run still stands out.
"We ended up becoming runner-up for state my junior year and had the longest game in Illinois history for IHSA," she said. "That was really cool."
Behind those accomplishments was a strong foundation of family support.
"My family, they're just everything," Edmiaston said. "They gave up a lot of summers. My sister gave up a lot. My parents obviously put a lot of money into it. We traveled all summer."
Her final year of travel ball required even greater commitment, with a Chicago-based team that meant five-hour drives for practice every other weekend.
"It was a lot of sacrifice for them, and that's the only reason I'm here—because they've just given me everything that they can to be successful."
Those experiences shaped her understanding of what it takes to compete at a high level.
"Being able to play with all different types of people on the fly and just understanding that with softball and playing at a high level, there's a lot of sacrifice," she said. "I missed a lot of high school events, missed a lot of time with friends, and it was just so worth it because playing on the national level is amazing."
That foundation carried her into the next phase of her career at Florida SouthWestern State College, where she continued to grow both on and off the field.
"JUCO was probably the best thing to happen to me," she said. "Those were the best two years of my life."
The junior college experience tested her in new ways, particularly with constant roster turnover and the need to adapt quickly.
"At JUCO, the team switches so much," she said. "Just being able to face adversity and playing on a team that half the team's going to be leaving, half the team is going to be new the next year is great."
It also reinforced her belief that she could compete at the highest level.
"We were very competitive," she said. "I got to go to nationals two years in a row—got seventh my freshman year and then second my sophomore year. We got to play University of Florida, USF, all those big schools. That just kind of reassured me that, OK, I want to play at the next level after this."
Her recruitment process accelerated after nationals, with guidance from her coaches helping her map out the next step.
"My process didn't fully start until we lost nationals," she said. "That night, Coach Rob was very helpful with me, and we were talking about schools and options and where I'd want to be. I let him know, hey, I want to stay in Florida."
When she arrived on campus at Stetson University, the fit felt immediate.
"I do very well in a smaller environment," she said. "Coach Cousins talked a lot about their close-knit community on the team and how last year they made a big run because it was like a family. That just really resonated with me."
Even though her visit didn't follow the typical script, it ended up reinforcing exactly what she was looking for.
"When I was on my visit, it was a holiday, so I only got to meet Coach Cousins, and it was very empty on campus," she said. "But I do very well in a smaller environment."
During that visit, the conversation centered less on facilities and more on culture.
"She talked a lot about their close-knit community on the team and how last year they made a big run because it was like a family," Edmiaston said. "She told me a lot about how her family's very involved… and that just really resonated with me because you don't want it to feel like a job."
Even in a quiet setting, the foundation of the program stood out.
"It just felt very family-oriented," she said. "I got to meet our strength trainer, which was great, and knowing that they have that firm foundation—because practice and weights are very important to me—just reassured me that this was going to be a great place for me."
The transition brought a different structure and rhythm, something she welcomed.
"It's definitely a lot different in that it's structured," Edmiaston said. "In JUCO, we don't have the 8-hour rule, 20-hour rule, so I kind of woke up in the morning, went to practice, went to class in my uniform, and then went back to practice and then had conditioning or strength training that night. This has been kind of a pleasant adjustment."
That structure has translated directly to success on the field, particularly in the team's ability to make adjustments early in games.
"We work a lot on making adjustments earlier," she said. "We do a lot of live with our pitchers, so that's very helpful. It's really just trying to make those adjustments sooner, and it's translating to games very well because you see us scoring a lot of runs in the early innings."
It's that preparation that allows her to stay relaxed at the plate—even in the midst of a breakout season.
"I don't really see them as anything," she said of her home runs.
Surrounded by trust from her coaches and teammates, she's been able to play freely and confidently.
"They just let me go up to the plate because they have confidence in me," she said. "That just makes me feel that they all believe I can do it. They all want me to be in the box right now. So that just makes it even better for me. I just feel very comfortable."
That confidence is amplified by the lineup around her, which has become one of the most productive in the conference.
"It starts with AB and [Irianis]," she said. "In most of my at-bats, I swing at the first pitch, and that's solely because they see at least five pitches in an at-bat. So that just makes it ten times easier for me knowing that I've seen every pitch the pitcher's going to throw."
She's quick to share the credit.
"They always get on base because most of my home runs have been multi-RBI, and that's because they do such a good job of making sure I'm put in that RBI position," she said. "Even if I get out, I don't even have to worry because Amber's right behind me. You never have a break in our lineup."
That balance and depth have fueled a historic season for the program, highlighted by a new single-season home run record and the potential to set a single-season grand slam record as well.
"We went into the weekend telling ourselves, OK, no one's better than us, we're just coming out playing our best," she said after the team's sweep of North Florida. "It definitely makes us feel a lot better knowing that everything we've done is working and that we're rising up and we're doing really well."
As the wins have piled up, so has the recognition. Edmiaston has earned Player of the Week honors from the ASUN, Softball America, and the NFCA as well as being ranked eighth in Softball America's Midseason Position rankings for firstbase. Not only has Edmiaston been cast in the spotlight but the Hatters have as well with the team being ranked in Mid-Major polls by Softball America and D1 Softball.
"It honestly feels like a weight off our chest because we deserved it earlier in the season," she said. "Now that we are getting that recognition, it's like, OK, we're up here and we deserve to be up here."
Through it all, her family has been right there with her—celebrating every moment.
"They're loving it," she said with a laugh. "My grandmother's eating it up. She's one of my best friends. My mom was here this weekend, so she got to see me do well. That's just amazing. I get constant texts and the cringy Facebook posts from my grandma, and it's just great. I love my family."
While her success on the field continues to grow, her ambitions extend well beyond softball. After graduation, she plans to pursue a career in law with the Coast Guard.
"I would really, really, really like to do law for the Coast Guard," she said. "I plan on going to officer school right after I graduate here and hopefully doing maritime law for them."
It's a goal deeply connected to her family's history.
"My dad talks about it. He has some funny stories. My grandpa always talked about it. My great grandpa was a prisoner of war," she said. "I think just doing something bigger—it was very appealing to me, and there was a very reachable career for me in it."
Her teammates already recognize the significance of that dream.
"They all know my goals and that's my dream after college," she said. "They're like, you know, [Nicole], one day we can say that we had a girl that we're honoring. That was just really cool and fun to honor military members because that's something I want to do."
Looking back, Edmiaston knows how far she's come—and how unlikely it once may have seemed.
"Little Nicole would be very surprised we're here," she said. "I was very small growing up. I wasn't the biggest hitter in grade school or even rec ball. I was very lucky if I got on base. I think she'd be like, wow, OK, this is pretty cool. I don't think I expected this stage, but it's what I wanted."
Now, with a record-breaking season unfolding and bigger goals still ahead, her focus remains simple.
"I think my personal goals is just to enjoy it, enjoy every part of it," she said. "It's my last two years of softball, so I think just being where my feet are and playing the best I can so we can win the ASUN. My goal is just to do everything in my power to allow us to go as far as we can in the postseason."
With a 25-15 overall record and a 10-2 mark in conference play, Stetson softball is riding high this season, and
Nicole Edmiaston has been at the heart of it all. From her small-town beginnings in Illinois to becoming one of the Hatters' most dangerous hitters, her journey is a testament to hard work, preparation, and resilience. Beyond the home runs and accolades, Edmiaston's leadership and confidence have helped lift the entire team, creating a lineup that's firing on all cylinders. As Stetson continues its push in ASUN play, the Hatters are proving that their best moments may still lie ahead.
About Stetson Athletics
At Stetson University, student-athletes don't just compete—they thrive. Located in historic DeLand, Florida, between Orlando and Daytona Beach, Stetson offers the perfect blend of competitive athletics, academic excellence, and an unbeatable Central Florida lifestyle. As the oldest private university in the region, Stetson supports approximately 500 student-athletes across 19 NCAA Division I sports. Nicknamed the "Hatters" after the institution's namesake John B. Stetson, a hat manufacturer who originated the modern-day cowboy hat, most Stetson athletic teams compete in the Atlantic Sun Conference, where they proudly hold the longest active membership since 1985. With top-tier facilities, personalized support, and a welcoming campus community, Stetson is where students can grow, compete, and succeed. Learn more at GoHatters.com or follow social media accounts @StetsonHatters.
