![Janiva Willis](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/9e43de_a05234fa1a47458c828bb203026d4be1~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_1390,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/Janiva%20Willis_Portrait2022.jpg)
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Category
Athlete
Sport
Softball
Hometown
Irishtown
Year Inducted
2022
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/217034_aa788b10d08b40aabf27cbe4543499e7~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_500,h_500,al_c,q_85,enc_auto/00679A%20-%20Blue%20Square.png)
athlete, black athlete
Janiva Willis (D)
HONOURED MEMBER
Biography
The late Janiva Willis got her softball start in Irishtown playing with the Riverview A’s where she was picked up by NB Provincial West Kent Lafarge Lasers and represented New Brunswick at the 2001 Canada Games. She played seven seasons on Canada’s national women’s team, highlighted by a silver medal at the 2007 Pan American Games and a gold at the 2007 World University Games. Janiva earned a scholarship to Winthrop University in South Carolina, where she was a four-time All-Big South Conference selection and was regarded as one of the top players in the history of the program. As of 2022, she still holds team records in home runs, doubles, walks, and total bases. Willis was also a three-time All-Academic Team selection and was voted the 2005 Big South Scholar-Athlete of the Year for softball. Following her senior year in 2005, Willis was named the NCAA's South Carolina Woman of the Year and was a Top 10 Finalist for NCAA National Woman of the Year.
Quick Facts
A member of the Canadian Women’s Softball Team that won Silver at the 2007 Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
A gold medalist in women’s softball at the University Games in 2007
Attended Winthrop University in South Carolina on a softball scholarship and was South Carolina’s NCAA Woman of the year in 2005
Inducted into the Softball New Brunswick, Big South, Multi-Ethnic Sports, and Winthrop Hall of Fames