Written by Bailey Cook

Embrace the unexpected.

A soldier and softball player in all, Danica Mercado, or also known as “Neek” with Oregon Softball, went through many ups and downs as a redshirt student-athlete at the University of Oregon. Right off the bat Neek was crutch-bound for nine months and broke her fibula and dislocated her ankle 20 days before season was supposed to start her freshman year. She had anticipated being the starting second baseman for her team, but rather had to go through two ankle surgeries. While some may have already thought her career was over, she did not let her injuries define her.

“For me, it was very important that each day I sat on the bench and watched my team practice, that I still brought a positive light.”

Through the lens of an athlete on the bench, she was able to support the game and her teammates through another point of view.

SOCIAL MEDIA COVERAGE.

How did she connect to the fans while being injured?

The limelight becomes gigantic as the athlete begins to perform.

Interviews with Danica:

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wN6X2Fzy2BM&feature=youtu.be)

While wanting to support her teammates, but couldn’t on the field, she decided to create a social media page on Instagram (@quackpacsb) where fans could engage with the team through mid-practice interviews, Q and A, and 3-5 minute videos each week to get the know the team. The fans LOVED IT and that was when Oregon Softball took off with media coverage.

By engaging on different media platforms, Danica was able to give fans content that made them feel like they were part of the team. Parents and family members loved feeling like they were with the team on the bus and in the dugouts.

@quackpacsb

As an injured athlete, Neek had more time to focus on growing and producing high quality authentic photos and videos because she could not play on the field for quite some time.

What made it so unique?

QPSB helped Danica learn how to be authentic to her audience, which helped her in the long- run for further social media outlets post graduation. What made the content she created so unique was that it was about REAL versions of Oregon athletes, not simply just about the stats.

 

Where is she now?

Since graduating in 2017, she has created her own business ran through social media, primarily through Instagram and Facebook. Her current job is a full time online health coach where she connects with women to help them begin their fitness journey.

Similar to her previous experience creating media accounts while her time in college, Danica was able to grow over time with her communicator skills and eventually be running this successful business.

Along with being a fitness coach her second instagram page is @mercadosoftball where she advertises her upcoming softball clinics and lessons.

@mercadosoftball

This page was actually her old college Instagram account that she re-designed. Knowing her audience that followed her in college who loved softball and herself as a player, she decided to keep the account. Content such as adding drills and tips for players is what she now uses for her recently new page, in order for her audience to reach their greatest potential.

All in all, while being a part of the Oregon Softball program for five years and being injured for most of that time, she was able to create something bigger than herself for her team and mostly for the fans in an impactful way.