There is no better way to celebrate Women’s History Month in the Fox Valley than by celebrating a new career for a female in Major League Baseball (MLB).
Waubonsee student Madison Femia, of Geneva, has always loved the game of baseball. Baseball has traditionally been a male-dominated sport, but female participation on and off the field is increasing. Major League Baseball kick-started their Take the Field Program five years ago, designed to provide career and networking opportunities for women. Proudly, Femia is a veteran of this program and signing a contract to work part-time in New York City as a Video Replay Operator.
As a lover of the game, Femia found herself on the field often. She played baseball for private leagues and softball for part of her high school career in Geneva, earning scholarships to continue to play for a college team.
Femia became the first female coach for the Frontier League, a professional independent baseball league, where she coached full-time for the Joliet Slammers minor league baseball team. “The person who inspires me most is Elizabeth Benn, Director of Operations for the New York Mets,” says Femia. Benn has just been hired in February of 2022, earning her the title of the highest-ranking woman to hold a baseball operations role in the franchise's history.
Today, Femia is an assistant coach for the Waubonsee Chiefs Baseball team at Waubonsee Community College. She was the Chiefs’ Baseball team manager for the 2020-2021 season. “I wanted to pursue coaching instead of playing because I want to help people. I want to take skills that I love and use them for others,” says Femia. Her passion for baseball and coaching made it an easy choice to uproot from her Illinois home and move to “The Big Apple” at the young age of 19.
If it had not been for the encouragement and mentoring Femia received from Coach Rodney Lopez, Waubonsee’s head baseball coach, she would have never chased her dreams. “Coach Rodney is understanding and separates his emotions from facts when it comes to games,” Femia says. “Him and I both balance caring about the players and wanting to win.”
As a female, Femia’s drive to break into the world of baseball has not been easy. “I make it a mission to become respected and accepted by my players through my knowledge and hard work,” Femia says. “Men and women can do the same jobs. My parents supported the household duties equally while raising me.”
Femia plans to graduate from Waubonsee earning her associate’s degree in business this May. She will move on to pursue her bachelor’s degree in International Business while working for the MLB. She recognizes the future may bring hardship, especially moving to a large metropolitan city by herself. Femia is determined to pursue her dream of working as a coach in the major leagues. “It’s going to be hard. You have to get over stereotypes and hardships to chase your dreams. Don’t let others' mindsets change who you are,” Femia says.
Waubonsee Community College celebrates Women’s History Month! This year’s theme is “I’m a Woman. What’s Your Superpower?” Women’s History Month commemorates and encourages the study, observance, and celebration of the vital role of women in American history. Visit waubonsee.edu/WomensHistoryMonth to learn more.
