Saturday marked the end of a journey for Brianna Grimes and the start of a new one. There, on the artificial surface at Bishop Schmitt in Wheeling, did Grimes receive her degree and cap an exciting yet arduous four years at Wheeling (Jesuit) University. It’s a journey that tested her physically, mentally, and even spiritually. But it’s that Jesuit spirit that led Grimes to Wheeling and ultimately helped her decision to stay, despite the mass of uncertainty swirling about campus in 2018-19. That was a campus-wide issue. Grimes also faced a more specific issue with her softball teammates—those that remained. In 2018, the Cardinals finished runner-up in the MEC, falling a run-shy in innings against West Virginia State. The next season wasn’t as successful and as rumors swirled and fields of study were dropped at campus, so too did the team’s roster. The 2019 team had 22 players, five of which were seniors. When the 2020 team took the field this spring, it had just 12, including five freshmen. Only eight of the potentially 17 returning players came back. The team itself was without a head coach until late in the game when WU hired Tiffany Buckmaster to come in and get the ship back on course. That she did. WU started the season 5-5 after a successful trip to Florida. Grimes herself started strong, leading the team in a number of offensive categories. But then, as with seemingly all things 2020 related—COVID. Read the full article