Kayla Zimmerman - 2024

Mercy University || Lefty 1B/OF || Psychology Major || @MorgansMessage Ambassador 💜🦋 || [email protected]

[Kayla Zimmerman - 2024 @kaylaz64]

So excited to announce that I will be transferring to Mercy University to continue my academic and athletic career! So thankful for Coach Jaime giving me this opportunity!💙 @MercySoftballHC @NYNighthawksSB

[Recruitology : The Study of Recruiting @RecruitologyLLC]

Hudson Valley Showcase - this October 3-4!
🙌🏼REGISTRATION NOW OPEN! 🙌🏼

https://t.co/xOtBlnElX1

[Kayla Zimmerman - 2024 @kaylaz64]

The best!🤍⭐️

[MercySoftball @MercySoftballHC]

Incredible year with a special team! No transfers in the last two years! Great culture & , great kids. Looking forward to the future with the Mav Family 💙🩵

[Mercy Mavericks @MercyMavericks]

Check out photos from Softball's NCAA Tournament win over Franklin Pierce yesterday that sent the Mavs to the East Region Final for the first time in program history! 🔥🥎

📸: Jim Stankiewicz

The Mavs are back in action today at 11 a.m. taking on Assumption @ Franklin Pierce.

[Mercy Mavericks @MercyMavericks]

Congrats to Softball on a historic 2026 season! The Mavs end the season 28-20, advancing to the East Region Final in the NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history! Well done, Mavs!

[Kayla Zimmerman - 2024 @kaylaz64]

@JSakowich2026 @AdelphiSb @NYNighthawksSB @JjhsSoftball INSANE JENNA!! Congratulations 🥰🥰🤍🤍

[NY Nighthawks Softball @NYNighthawksSB]

16U Red & 16U Black PPC

[NY Nighthawks Softball @NYNighthawksSB]

Another fun filled, competitive alumni game in the books! We loved seeing you all! Already can’t wait for next year ❤️

[NY Nighthawks Softball @NYNighthawksSB]

‼️16U RED VS ALUMNI ‼️

JULY 7th 5:00-6:30pm
@ 30 Morris Ave Cold Spring, NY 10516

It’s that time of the year again! Come out and watch these athletes compete! Can’t wait to see everyone!

[Carly Krebs @Carly_Krebs2026]

Got some swings in after my english regents 💪💪@NYNighthawksSB

[Kayla Zimmerman - 2024 @kaylaz64]

A must read🤍 Mental health in athletics matters.

[Joey Cunha @_joeycunha]

Every year, people go on a rant about how “kids these days” are soft or ungrateful for entering the transfer portal. But let’s talk about what’s actually happening because most people have no idea how this really works.

There are tons of players in the portal who didn’t “quit” on their program—they were told they didn’t have a spot anymore. Coaches told them they should look elsewhere. Coaches pulled scholarships. Coaches pushed them out behind the scenes without ever owning that publicly.

But you don’t see those stories. You just see numbers in the portal and assume it’s all selfish kids running from adversity. You’re not talking to the players. You’re not seeing what really happens.

At the same time, those same coaches are hitting refresh on the portal, shopping for new players. They’ll tell one kid they’re “not part of the plan,” and then celebrate when they land a high-profile transfer from another program. Then they’ll start that new player over the one who’s been loyal for three years. And when that player enters the portal next year? They’ll trash him too.

Meanwhile, fans and media will scream, “Where’s the loyalty?” But they’ll turn a blind eye when the coach takes a better job and leaves overnight, no exit meeting, no plan, no heads-up. He was doing what’s best for him. But the players aren’t allowed the same grace?

The reality is, college sports have become big business. There are schools signing billion-dollar TV deals, and we’re still talking about how a “free education” should be enough? Do you know how hard it is to play a sport and earn a legitimate degree at the same time? Most of the time, they can’t even get into the real programs. They’re steered toward the majors that don’t conflict with practice or travel. Internships, labs, clinicals? All off the table.

So don’t act like you gave these athletes some massive life-changing opportunity. You handed them a pre-selected major and an impossible schedule, and in return, they gave you their body, their time, their brand, and everything else. And when they ask for a little leverage, a little control over their future and you get pissed?

This whole thing is built on sacrifice and the backs of kids who give up time with their families, who travel year-round, who carry the pressure of entire programs, getting shit on by hundreds of their home fans on social media because they went 0-4 tonight while barely keeping their heads above water academically and emotionally. But when it doesn’t work out, we treat them like they’re selfish for looking for a better situation.

If you had a job offer in another state that paid better, was closer to family, and gave you more opportunity—you’d take it. No one would question that. But when a player does it, suddenly it’s betrayal?

And let’s not forget—players built these programs. Decades of sacrifice from 18-to-22-year-olds who got nothing while their coaches cashed in, athletic departments built $50M facilities, and schools marketed the hell out of it all. It’s branding. It’s business. It’s not just a game anymore. And if it’s business on one side, it’s business on the other.

You don’t get to shame a kid for protecting his future just because it makes your team worse. You don’t get to talk about loyalty while you’re actively replacing your own guys with better ones. You don’t get to be mad at the system while benefitting from it.

At the end of the day, players are people.

They get to make decisions, too.
Give them some damn respect, love, and grace—instead of ignoring the inconvenient facts.

You want to talk real numbers? Let’s talk about what people like to avoid because it’s uncomfortable:

Between 2002 and 2022, suicide became the second-leading cause of death among NCAA athletes—only behind accidents.

Even worse?
The rate of suicide among college athletes has doubled over the last two decades.

Players today are carrying pressures no one before them ever had to shoulder. (1 of 2)

[Kayla Zimmerman - 2024 @kaylaz64]

@haneyca12 @_coachrachel Thank you so much!

[Kayla Zimmerman - 2024 @kaylaz64]

@AlyssaDarcy2026 @ElmiraCollegeSB @NYNighthawksSB Yay Alyssa huge congratulations!!!

[Kayla Zimmerman - 2024 @kaylaz64]

Some swings from today’s hitting session. Working on hitting different pitch locations on the barrel of the bat! @NYNighthawksSB @SoftballPortal @SBRRetweets

[Kayla Zimmerman - 2024 @kaylaz64]

@EmmaKozlowski34 @KetchamSoftball @NYNighthawksSB @VWUSOFTBALL Yay Emma!!!🤍

[Kayla Zimmerman - 2024 @kaylaz64]

3.95 GPA D2 transfer portal athlete 3 years of eligibility remaining L/L 1B/OF. 1.000 FPCT this past season. Psychology major.
@SoftballPortal @NYNighthawksSB
https://t.co/MUHrRPalQW

[Kayla Zimmerman - 2024 @kaylaz64]

Due to recent academic changes at AIC, I have entered the transfer portal with 3 years of eligibility remaining. I want to thank Coach Shalise and Coach Matt for giving me a great opportunity and shaping me into the person I am today🤍 https://t.co/62mIPI7fFJ

[Kayla Zimmerman - 2024 @kaylaz64]

@CaputoMaggie2 Yay!!! Congrats Maggie!

[NY Nighthawks Softball @NYNighthawksSB]

We love when our alumni get the chance to play each other and support each other. Once a Nighthawk, always a Nighthawk 🖤❤️