BEFORE PENN STATE
Ricks joined the Nittany Lions following a successful four-year career at Florida Gulf Coast University which included 127 career appearances and 112 starts… Overall, Ricks registered 74 total hits while amassing 49 career runs scored… She worked for 22 combined extra-base hits at FGCU split between 10 doubles, six triples and six home runs… Speed was the name of the game during her time in Fort Myers, assembling 32 career stolen bases highlighted by back-to-back double-digit steal campaigns in 2023 and 2024… The rising fifth year collected a wide array of accolades with the Eagles, highlighted by First Team All-Conference honors after a breakout 2023 campaign… During her stint with the Eagles, Ricks was a key contributor in the program’s 2024 Atlantic Sun Tournament championship and NCAA Gainesville Regional appearance.
HIGH SCHOOL
One of the strongest high school performers in the state of Florida, Ricks played her high school softball at Winter Haven Senior in her native Winter Haven, Florida… Named a MaxPreps All-American in 2017-18… Ricks picked up First Team All-County accolades in every season from 2017 to 2019, additionally earning recognition as the Winter Haven Offensive Player of the Year in the 2018-19 and 2019-20 academic years… In addition to her experience on the softball diamond, Ricks also competed in varsity volleyball at Winter Haven… Played her travel ball for Florida Team Impact in Lakeland, Florida, from 2015 to 2020… Won ASA Gold Nationals 16u crown in 2017-18, as well as the Legacy Gold 18U title and Premier Legacy Invitational crown in 2018-19… She placed second in the Junior Olympics in 2018, followed by a fifth-place finish in 2019.
PERSONAL
Born in the summer of 2002, Meagan Ricks is the youngest daughter of Steve and Stacy Ricks, hailing from Winter Haven, Florida… Ricks has one older sister, named Katelynn Jackson, who is three years her senior… She graduated from Florida Gulf Coast University in the spring of 2024 with a Bachelor of Science degree in health science, and will pursue a postgraduate certificate in Business Management Foundations in the prestigious Penn State Smeal College of Business, planning to graduate with that certificate in the spring of 2025… Upon completion of her academic career, Ricks intends to pursue a career as a dental hygienist.