One of Windsor’s most accomplished athletes of the ‘90s is now Binghamton University Athletics newest Hall of Famer.
Jami Johnston (Pier), who graduated from Windsor Central High School in 1996 and Binghamton University in 2000, is one of four members of the Bearcats’ 2021 Hall of Fame class after an outstanding softball career.
Johnston was a critical part of the program as it transitioned from Division III. She led the Bearcat softball team to a pair of NCAA tournament appearances in 1997 and 1998 and then an ECAC Division II title in 2000. Pier was a three-time all-region catcher who compiled 100 career RBIs and hit .328 in her career.
“For me, it wasn’t about the stats. It was about showing up, working my hardest, tying to be better than I was yesterday, and being a good teammate,” she said.
That is an attitude Johnston developed in Windsor, where she played field hockey, volleyball, and softball.
“Athletics was a huge part of my high school career. It allowed me to form lifelong friendships with many different people over my years with having different teammates from my three sports. It kept me active and involved and instilled school spirit and pride with being a Black Knight,” she said.
Whether it was the “great working relationship” she with her softball and field hockey coach, Joan Van Riper, or the time spent with her teammates, Johnston remembers her time in Windsor fondly.
“The memories that remain are just the comradery between me and the coaches and my teammates. The fun we had in practices, the long bus rides we shared, and the bond we formed as a team, along with the quirky superstitions, songs, and sayings we had were the best of memories,” she said.