RALEIGH, N.C. | Meredith College Softball celebrated five players: Gracie Massengale, Jessie Woller, Avery Puryear, Annabel Rocha, and Rheanne Burden at yesterday's senior celebration. The celebration included a final game of catch with parents in the outfield and then the intra-squad scrimmage. The Angels triumphed 14-10 over the Avengers despite a spirited late comeback from the Avengers. Read below to learn more about the legacy that each senior left on Meredith's softball program.

Meredith Softball Seniors:

#21 Annabel Rocha Catcher from Jacksonville, North Carolina
Annabel joined the program as a transfer last season and will graduate this spring with her Bachelor of Arts in Business. During her time at Meredith, Annabel took advantage of many leadership opportunities on campus. An active participant in the Student Athlete Advisory Committee, she represented Meredith at the USA South Summer Leadership retreat and traveled to the 2025 NCAA Convention. Annabel was the co-chair of the Angel Nation Committee and served on the events committee as well.  Outside of athletics, she worked as a student ambassador for the admissions office. Annabel was also a Resident Hall Advisor while completing internships at Marbles Kids Museum, Chestnut and Vine and the Arts and Humanities Department at Meredith. 

After graduation Annabel will be working with the Carolina Mudcats as a marketing and promotions intern. 

#28 Jessie Woller from Durham, North Carolina
Jessie joined the program as a freshman in 2022 and immediately made an impact with her intensity, passion for the game and endless enthusiasm.  Jessie started 28 games in her freshman season, finishing with a solid.330 batting average with one home run and 12 RBIs. In a double header sweep of Salem, Jessie was 5-9 with 3 runs scored, 1 double, 2 triples and 3 RBI's. She hit two triples in her first ever conference game. After a huge week where went a perfect 4-for-4 with two runs scored, three RBI, and one double, she was named USA South Rookie of the Week.

Always willing to do what the team needs, she played 3B, SS, 2nd Base and even spent some time in the bullpen for the Angels. In 222 at bats in her career, she has compiled 62 hits, including 13 doubles and 25 RBI's.  Most of you know, her athletic career was sadly cut short after a very serious head injury she sustained when sliding into home last year, but Jessie has continued to leave her mark on the program with her hard work, dedication to her goals and impressive accomplishments off the field.

An excellent student, Jessie is completing her degree in Psychology this spring.  She was named to the Dean's list twice.  Jessie is a student leader for Summit College where she also completed an internship.  Jessie was recently accepted into graduate school and will be attending Southeastern Seminary School for my MA and licensure in marital, family and individual counseling! 

Team Captain #8 Gracie Massengale, Catcher from Coumbus, Georgia
Gracie is completing her athletic eligibility this season, but as a dual-degree engineering student, she will still be with us in Raleigh next year as she completes her degree at NC State. In pursuit of her Chemical Engineering degree, Gracie has achieved tremendous success in the classroom. A three-time USA South Academic All-Conference selection, a distinction she will no doubt achieve again this semester, she was inducted into the Chi Alpha Sigma Athletic honor society.  Starting off strong, she was also inducted into the Alpha Lamba Delta first year honor society. Gracie is also a member of the Gamma Sigma Epsilon Chemistry Honor Society.

Gracie was named our 2024 Jack Huber Softball Award winner at the end of her Junior season. This award goes to an athlete who exemplifies our department's core values and represents our program well in all that she does. She is incredibly hard-working and dedicated to our goals and approaches each day with a willingness to help those around her while leading by example.  She performs any role asked of her with a remarkable attention to detail and can always be counted on. She encourages her teammates, never takes any reps off, works incredibly hard to improve each day while pushing those by her side. It is for these reasons; she was also named team captain for her senior year.  

Gracie will return to Johns Manville this summer to resume her engineering internship. She will then return to Raleigh to complete her undergraduate degrees in Chemistry and Chemical Engineering. 

#50 Avery Puryear, First Basemen from Rougemont, North Carolina
Puryear is a member of the junior class, however, in just three seasons with the Angels she has left an incredible mark on our program. Starting in 114 games for the Angels, Avery has compiled a career batting average of .317.  She has 108 hits, 26 doubles, 2 HR's, and has helped her team win game after game with her 79 RBI's. She was named USA South Player of the Week twice in her career. In 2024 she earned this accolade after batting .600 with 5 RBI's a double, and a monster HR against Guilford. She repeated this honor this season after she went 6-for-8 in our sweep of Brevard scoring 4 runs, 7 RBI and 4 doubles.  At the end of the 2024 season Avery received our team Offensive MVP Award. She had our team's highest batting average in conference, led our team in hits and RBI's, was tied for first in home runs, and was second in doubles and slugging %.

Avery also achieves great success in the classroom. An accounting major, completing her bachelor's degree in just 3 years, she has been named to the USA South Academic All-Conference team each year. She was inducted into the Chi Alpha Sigma Honor Society, the Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society, has been named to the Deans List all four years and is a Recipient of the CMA Scholarship. This year she received the school of Business Excellence in Accounting Award.  A member of SAAC the past two years, she has played an active role in several service projects on campus.

Avery has been accepted into the NC State Jenkins Masters of Accounting Program, which she will begin next fall. 

Team Captain #14 Rheanne Burden, Third Basemen from Cary, North Carolina
Rheanne joined the program as a freshman in 2022.  Making her mark right away, she had an impressive freshman season, batting .417. In 50 starts for the Angels she has compiled 36 hits, 5 doubles and 15 RBI's. Rheanne was named team captain as a junior and has led her team with maturity, positivity and an incredible work ethic. She was named to the USA South All-Sportsmanship team in 2024.  Working hard in the weight room as well as on the field, she was named Strength and Conditioning Avenging Angel of the Month in April 2023. 

An interior design major, Rheanne has made the most of her time her at Meredith on and off the field. She currently holds a cumulative GPA of 3.972. She has earned USA South All-Academic team honors with distinction each season and was named College Sports Communicators Academic All District in 2023. She has been named to the Dean's List each semester and is a member of the Phi Kappa Phi, Kappa Omicron Nu, Kappa Nu Sigma and Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Societies. She was the 2024-2025 ASID (American Society of Interior Designers) Senior Class Representative 2024-2025 and served as the Social Media Chair 2023-2024. Rheanne also found time to study abroad in Italy with the Interior Design program. 

All of Rheanne's dedication to excellence and hard work has paid off and has already accepted a job, she will begin her career working full-time with Daly Seven, Inc. as their Design Coordinator.

Meredith Athletics thanks Annabel, Avery, Rheanne, Gracie, and Jessie for all they have done for Meredith Athletics and wish them all the best!