Fourth Time's the Charm: Ross-Smith's Perseverance in the Face of Constant Adversity

LA JOLLA, Calif. – When walking down Ridge Walk during a University of California San Diego softball game, one might have overheard the toon “Hips Don’t Lie” by Shakira, blasting from the speakers of Triton Softball Field. 

Take a few steps closer and one would have seen Brittney Ross-Smith, now a 2020 graduate and former Triton first baseman, digging into the right-handed batter’s box. 

For most ballplayers, a walk-up song is selected for the purpose of energizing them as they approach the plate, while also informing fans who is due up. The moment Shakira’s big hit played, it became apparent who was next in the lineup for UC San Diego. 

“[The song] always made me laugh as I walked up to the plate and kept me loose during my at-bat,” said Ross-Smith. 

The Valencia native was among the many seniors nationwide who had their final collegiate seasons taken away in the blink of an eye. However, for Ross-Smith, it was not the only year abbreviated throughout her playing career.

“I had the goal of playing college softball for as long as I can remember, so I wasn’t going to let a few surgeries get in my way,” she said. 

Upon officially entering the “real world” on June 13, Ross-Smith reflected on her time as a Triton scholar-athlete, which consisted of four hip surgeries and as a result many ups and downs along the way.

Through the process, which was inevitability exhausting, Ross-Smith shared a message for other athletes enduring a similar situation. 

“There are going to be good days and bad days,” she mentioned. “On those bad days, it’s okay to be frustrated, but you can’t let it get in your way. It’s important to give yourself some credit once in a while and remember to celebrate the little victories along the way.”

“Looking back, [my injury] made me stronger and I know those lessons will benefit me in the long run,” Ross-Smith continued. 

“It was overwhelming at times but going into the training room had to become a priority,” Ross-Smith claimed. “Every athlete has to learn how to balance their academic and athletic responsibilities and seeing the athletic trainers on a daily basis was a necessity for me too.”

She succeeded in both her sophomore (2018) and junior seasons (2019), while being named to the Desert Stinger All-Tournament Team twice. She also earned a spot on the Tournament of Championship All-Tournament Team – an impressive feat as a contender of the two annual West Coast Division II softball events. 

In addition, during her junior campaign, her fielding percentage was a near perfect .995 and she compiled a team-high 11 doubles. 

“I never thought I would miss things like conditioning, but all I wanted to do was be able to run shuttles alongside my teammates again,” Ross-Smith added. 

Among many of her supporters, including UC San Diego’s athletic trainers, Ross-Smith’s love for the game, her teammates and coaches, motivated her to push through and continue to fight an uncontrollable situation. 

“[My teammates] always had my back when I was struggling. And I can say with complete certainty that I would not have been able to continue playing without the athletic trainers,” Ross-Smith stated. 

“They were always there for me, whether that meant coming in early to make sure I was ready for games, staying late for post-game ice baths, or fitting me in for last minute hotel room rehabs on travel trips,” she said. “They did everything in their power to keep me functioning and get me back on the field. I am so grateful for them.”

Unfortunately, Ross-Smith’s career would end without a chance to reach each and every physical goal she had in mind.

Instead, she prospered in other facets. 

“I couldn’t contribute physically, but I had knowledge and experience to share. Even though I wanted to be on the field more than anything, I realized I had to take a mentoring role,” she said. “Helping the younger players adjust and watching them excel on the field even with the season being cut short, ended up being just as rewarding as being out there with them.”

Head Coach Patti Gerckens recognized Ross-Smith's determination and trust in the ongoing process over the course of her four years. 

“Brittney showed her resiliency and love for the game day in and day out, both on the field and in the athletic training room,” said Gerckens. “There were times I thought she might throw in the towel, but she was determined to fulfill her dream of playing softball in college. I was truly proud and impressed with her commitment to herself, her teammates, and the program. She has certainly left a legacy.” 

Post UC San Diego, Ross-Smith plans to travel and spend time with family before embarking on her next chapter in the workforce. 

And of course, take it easy on her hips. 

About UC San Diego Athletics
After two decades as one of the most successful programs in NCAA Division II, the UC San Diego intercollegiate athletics program begins a new era in 2020 as a member of the Big West Conference in NCAA Division I.  The 23-sport Tritons earned 30 team and nearly 150 individual national championships during its time in DivisionsIII and II and helped guide more than 1,300 scholar-athletes to All-America honors.  A total of 82 Tritons have earned Academic All-America honors, while 37 have earned prestigious NCAA Post Graduate Scholarships.  UC San Diego student-athletes exemplify the academic ideals of one of the world's preeminent institutions, graduating at an average rate of 91 percent, one of the highest rates among institutions at all divisions.