​When a program is making the transition to a new landscape of college athletics, there are plenty of challenges that come with that.However, those challenges are certainly made easier when a team gets a player who competed at the NCAA Division II College World Series.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAnd they’re made even easier when said player understands the passion and pride that it takes to win in said area.AndiJo Howard, who led Wheelersburg to back-to-back OHSAA Division III State Championships in the sport of softball in 2022 and 2023 as the team’s ace pitcher and helped lead Glenville State to 51 wins and the NCAA Division II College World Series as a sophomore this past season, will transfer to Shawnee State this coming academic year in a monstrous offseason pickup.She will have no less than two seasons left to play for the Bears, who add a key pitching rotation and potential designated player piece that could prove to be quite vital as Shawnee State begins its NCAA Division II transition this coming academic year.Howard, who will reunite with fellow Little League World Series and Wheelersburg High School teammates and champions Haley Myers and Sydney Skiver, is ready to help Shawnee State attack what will be a new era.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement”It means everything to me to get to come home and finish my career,” Howard said. “I am a firm believer that God puts you in places at the right time for the right reasons. It just feels right to come back home and give back to my community. I can’t wait to see familiar faces at every game and play with some of my best friends again. I’ve played with some of these girls since we were six, so it’s very full circle. I also can’t wait to just get to be near my family. They mean so much to me, especially my Mammaw Janet, my parents and siblings, and my aunt Beth.”Howard, who began playing the sport of softball at four years of age, started getting into the sport seriously as she began attacking travel ball, notably with Buckeye Elite, where her best friend, Macee Eaton, and others also played.As sixth graders, both Howard and Eaton made the transition to playing with the Ohio Hawks. At that point, matters became more serious for both players as each dreamt of playing at the collegiate level, with both players fueling each other’s fire.”I really started of thinking about the next level pretty early. I started playing local travel ball on Buckeye Elite and have so many fun memories from that. Jason Smith being our coach made the tournaments so fun, but also competitive. Around the sixth grade, I started playing on the Ohio Hawks. Macee Eaton and I started playing on the team together and that’s when things started to become more serious. It’s been such a fun experience getting to grow and learn the game with her. Everyone around here knows she’s such an incredible athlete, but she’s an even better human being who I’m blessed to call my best friend. During the years of