Get to Know You: Melissa Nunes and Paityn Willoughby
November 06, 2017 | Softball
Nunes and Willoughby are in their first year of competition for OSU
For the weeks leading up to the regular season, fans will get a chance to learn about every member of the 2017-18 Oregon State softball team.
This week, we meet up with Paityn Willoughby and Melissa Nunes as they transition into the collegiate level. Willoughby is a native of Newberg, Ore., and is a utility player. Nunes is a native of Livermore, Calif., and is also a utility player.
Why did you choose Oregon State?
Paityn Willoughby: I chose Oregon State because of the amazing coaching staff, the school has my preferred major and it is close to my home.
Melissa Nunes: I decided to play for Oregon State because of the great coaching staff and the beautiful campus.
What do you enjoy about your major?
PW (Kinesiology): I love that I will get to help people and create a big impact on their life.
MN (Kinesiology): In the kinesiology field, you're always helping some and I am all about helping people. I know I want to help people when I am older.
What do you like most about playing softball?
PW: How competitive it is and how you always have to have a plan.
MN: I love how competitive the sport is.
What is your favorite thing about playing for Coach Berg?
PW: It would probably be how big of a leader she is on the field and I aspire to be as vocal and competitive as her.
MN: My favorite thing about Coach Berg would be how intense she is.
What does your uniform number mean to you?
PW: It was my dad's number and he is my biggest role model. He has shaped me into the person I am today.
MN: It means a lot to me. Each number has its own personal meaning behind them, so I decided to combine them.
What are the team goals for this season?
PW: Our goals are to finish in the top three in the Pac-12 and to play as a team, not individuals.
MN: Our goals are to finish in the top three in the Pac-12.
What is your personal goal for the season?
PW: My personal goal is to help out my team whenever I play or get in the game.
MN: My personal goal is to be the best teammate I can be.
What athlete did you idolize growing up and why?
PW: I idolized Robinson Cano because he was always underestimated as a player and because he played for my favorite team, the New York Yankees.
MN: I idolized Jessica Mendoza because she didn't try to fit in with others. She just did her own thing and was very successful at it.
What age did you know you wanted to play softball in college and what made you realize that?
PW: I was about 12. Everyone around me who I was training with told me it was their passion, so it became my passion too.
MN: I wanted to play softball in college at the age of eight. I remember watching Team USA Softball play and I decided that I wanted to play in college.
What song/band is most likely to be playing on your phone?
PW: It would be either Florida Georgia Line or Post Malone.
MN: I am either listening to songs from Post Malone or Khalid.
Do you have any pregame rituals or traditions?
PW: I put on my uniform a certain way and I also eat pasta the night before a game.
MN: Nope.
What current show could you see yourself being a part of?
PW: Either Grey's Anatomy or One Tree Hill.
MN: Keeping Up With The Kardashians.
What is the best thing about living in Corvallis?
PW: Everyone here is so inviting and helpful. Also, it is such a cute, small town.
MN: The fact that it is the best college town in the Pac-12.
What is your biggest phobia?
PW: Snakes and ladybugs.
MN: Spiders.
What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?
PW: Going on hikes, watching Netflix and going to the beach.
MN: Watching Netflix, hiking, boating, hanging out with my friends and snowboarding.
What is your favorite place on campus to hang out?
PW: In my dorm room hanging out with my roommates.
MN: Either BRC or the locker room.
Nickname:
PW: PDubb
MN: Missy
Favorite movie:
PW: We Bought A Zoo or Harry Potter
MN: Bridesmaids
Go-to food spot in Corvallis:
PW: Dixon Café
MN: Panera
Favorite vacation destination:
PW: Disneyland
MN: Hawai'i
Words to live by:
PW: Your greatness is not what you have, it's what you give.
MN: Hard work beats talent when talent doesn't work hard – Tim Notke
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This week, we meet up with Paityn Willoughby and Melissa Nunes as they transition into the collegiate level. Willoughby is a native of Newberg, Ore., and is a utility player. Nunes is a native of Livermore, Calif., and is also a utility player.
Why did you choose Oregon State?
Paityn Willoughby: I chose Oregon State because of the amazing coaching staff, the school has my preferred major and it is close to my home.
Melissa Nunes: I decided to play for Oregon State because of the great coaching staff and the beautiful campus.
What do you enjoy about your major?
PW (Kinesiology): I love that I will get to help people and create a big impact on their life.
MN (Kinesiology): In the kinesiology field, you're always helping some and I am all about helping people. I know I want to help people when I am older.
What do you like most about playing softball?
PW: How competitive it is and how you always have to have a plan.
MN: I love how competitive the sport is.
What is your favorite thing about playing for Coach Berg?
PW: It would probably be how big of a leader she is on the field and I aspire to be as vocal and competitive as her.
MN: My favorite thing about Coach Berg would be how intense she is.
What does your uniform number mean to you?
PW: It was my dad's number and he is my biggest role model. He has shaped me into the person I am today.
MN: It means a lot to me. Each number has its own personal meaning behind them, so I decided to combine them.
What are the team goals for this season?
PW: Our goals are to finish in the top three in the Pac-12 and to play as a team, not individuals.
MN: Our goals are to finish in the top three in the Pac-12.
What is your personal goal for the season?
PW: My personal goal is to help out my team whenever I play or get in the game.
MN: My personal goal is to be the best teammate I can be.
What athlete did you idolize growing up and why?
PW: I idolized Robinson Cano because he was always underestimated as a player and because he played for my favorite team, the New York Yankees.
MN: I idolized Jessica Mendoza because she didn't try to fit in with others. She just did her own thing and was very successful at it.
What age did you know you wanted to play softball in college and what made you realize that?
PW: I was about 12. Everyone around me who I was training with told me it was their passion, so it became my passion too.
MN: I wanted to play softball in college at the age of eight. I remember watching Team USA Softball play and I decided that I wanted to play in college.
What song/band is most likely to be playing on your phone?
PW: It would be either Florida Georgia Line or Post Malone.
MN: I am either listening to songs from Post Malone or Khalid.
Do you have any pregame rituals or traditions?
PW: I put on my uniform a certain way and I also eat pasta the night before a game.
MN: Nope.
What current show could you see yourself being a part of?
PW: Either Grey's Anatomy or One Tree Hill.
MN: Keeping Up With The Kardashians.
What is the best thing about living in Corvallis?
PW: Everyone here is so inviting and helpful. Also, it is such a cute, small town.
MN: The fact that it is the best college town in the Pac-12.
What is your biggest phobia?
PW: Snakes and ladybugs.
MN: Spiders.
What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?
PW: Going on hikes, watching Netflix and going to the beach.
MN: Watching Netflix, hiking, boating, hanging out with my friends and snowboarding.
What is your favorite place on campus to hang out?
PW: In my dorm room hanging out with my roommates.
MN: Either BRC or the locker room.
Nickname:
PW: PDubb
MN: Missy
Favorite movie:
PW: We Bought A Zoo or Harry Potter
MN: Bridesmaids
Go-to food spot in Corvallis:
PW: Dixon Café
MN: Panera
Favorite vacation destination:
PW: Disneyland
MN: Hawai'i
Words to live by:
PW: Your greatness is not what you have, it's what you give.
MN: Hard work beats talent when talent doesn't work hard – Tim Notke
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