Staying in Florida: TCC’s Matautia signs with Nova Southeastern
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (July 16, 2014) – Tallahassee Community College softball standout Te Reo Powhiri Matautia has signed a national letter of intent with Nova Southeastern University.
Matautia, a native of Mangere Bridge, Auckland, New Zealand, leaves Tallahassee after two seasons but will have three years of eligibility remaining with the Sharks.
A knee injury that ended her 2013 season after just four games proved nothing more than a minor setback.
Matautia received a medical hardship from the NJCAA then, in 54 games as the Eagles' starting left fielder in 2014, batted .371 with six home runs and 40 RBI to earn first-team All-Panhandle Conference and second-team FCSAA All-State honors.
"It was hard being redshirted (in 2013), but I learned a lot from my coaches about how to be a softball player.
"Being (a student-athlete) at TCC was a benefit," said Matautia. "I would've been thrown in the deep end at the Division I level."
Having already helped Tallahassee to its first Panhandle Conference championship since 1998, Matautia went out and claimed Most Valuable Player honors at May's FCSAA Tournament, where the Eagles won their first state championship in two decades.
In eight games during the FCSAA Tournament, Matautia batted .480 with three home runs and eight RBI.
Following an appearance in the NJCAA Division I Softball National Tournament, Matautia received second-team All-America honors from the National Fastpitch Coaches Association.
According to Matautia, it was a combination of coaches, location and degree offerings that helped Nova Southeastern move to the top of her list of prospective schools. Tallahassee head coach Patti Townsend is confident she made the right choice.
"I really expect Te to go in and give Nova Southeastern an All-America performance," said Townsend. "Her game presence and knowledge will help make them an even better program.
"She is an exciting player to watch and is going to have three great years for them."
After arriving from New Zealand, Matautia had to proceed through a series of developmental classes before her pursuit of an associate's degree began in earnest. But once it did, she delivered just as strongly in the classroom, earning all-academic honors from the Panhandle Conference and graduating from TCC with honors in June.
"I literally started from the bottom (academically)," said Matautia, "and I'm proud to have graduated."
Nova Southeastern, an NCAA Division II program located in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., competes in the Sunshine State Conference.