West Branch standout Sydney Mercer selects Mount Union for volleyball, softball

During her four years at West Branch High School, Sydney Mercer excelled in three sports.

Finishing her high school career by earning second-team All-Ohio in softball, Mercer has decided to try and play that sport and volleyball while pursuing a degree from the University of Mount Union.

"I was looking to play softball mainly, but I also loved volleyball, so I decided to try and play both sports," Mercer said.

Mercer also played basketball for the Warriors but indicated that was her third sport.

"I played basketball for fun in high school," she said. "I originally was not going to play it in high school, but [coach Walt] DeShields kept bugging me to play in my freshman year, so I stayed with it and I'm glad I did."

Mercer, who stands 5-foot-8, helped the Warriors win consistently in all three sports.

Sydney Mercer helped West Branch win more than 200 games in three sports

During her four years in volleyball, West Branch posted an aggregate 73-24 record under coach Penny DeShields. Mercer also played basketball for four years for Walt DeShields and the Warriors also were extremely successful, posting a combined 82-21 mark. Her softball career was limited to three years after COVID 19 forced the cancellation of the 2020 season, her sophomore year. She also helped West Branch produce a combined 57-18 record in the other three years.

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"I don't know how many games I played at West Branch, but I loved playing all three sports," Mercer said.

Mercer also respected all three of her high school head coaches, saying each one was a positive influence.

"Penny DeShields taught me the importance of working hard and I could talk to her about anything," Mercer said. "Walt DeShields taught me how to push myself to be better, because basketball isn't my greatest sport. Coach Woods was great because I learned skill things and the little things that are important [in softball]."

Mercer was a hitter in volleyball and played bigger than her height at net, finishing with 800 kills during her career. In basketball, she was a versatile player, seeing action as an undersized power forward and point guard.

Her versatility extended to softball, where she played first base and shortstop. She became an instant offensive threat and ended her senior season with an incredible .600 batting average (51-for-85), with 14 doubles, five triples, four home runs, 45 runs scored and 40 RBIs.

While honored by the All-Ohio recognition, the right-handed hitting Mercer also was humbled by the recognition and analyzed it from a team perspective.

"I had great teammates and could not have made it without them and their support," she said.

Sydney Mercer, a West Branch High graduate, expects to adjust her time management while playing two sports at Mount Union

Mercer is the daughter of John, a West Branch graduate, and Stacy Mercer, who hails from California. Her parents weren't athletes, but they offered her solid guidance when she decided to try out for athletics.

"My parents just told me, 'If you want to play sports, then play,'" she said. "They never pressured me to play, but they've been very supportive. One of the reasons why I chose Mount Union is because I'm a homebody and I wanted my parents and the rest of my family to come see me play."

Mercer not only displayed a passion for athletics while in high school, but she also made high marks in the classroom, earning a 3.7 grade-point average. She is leaning toward majoring in Sports Management in college and already has made a mental adjustment in her study habits.

"I cannot procrastinate with my subjects," she said. "Professors expect you to get your work done on time. I'll have to be more [efficient] because there are times when we're traveling to play road games."

There also is an expected athletic transition.

"I'll have to get used to playing [volleyball and softball] with new girls, except for [senior softball standout and former West Branch starter] Grace Heath [her high school teammate for one year]," Mercer said.

During the summer, Mercer stays busy on the softball diamond. She is playing travel ball with Thunder Elite, an 18-U team based in Vienna, located in Trumbull County.

"It's good competition," she said. "We play some very good teams."

There also is planned down time.

"I have three vacations scheduled," she said. "The first is with some family friends, the second is in Virginia with the softball team and the third will be at Myrtle Beach with my family."

Mercer is scheduled to report to Mount Union on August 15, officially beginning her transition to college.

Before looking ahead, she fondly looks back at her time as a high school three-sport athlete.

"I had a great time playing with the girls in all three sports because I played with them a long time, especially Megan Loudon," she said. "We developed great camaraderie and we played together as a team. I'm going to miss them."

This article originally appeared on The Alliance Review: West Branch's Sydney Mercer to play two sports at Mount Union