FORT MYERS, Fla. - Jackson County Central graduate Danielle Honnette, a physical therapist for the Minnesota Twins Florida Coast League team and Lee County Sports Complex, was featured recently in social media posts by the team.
The posts were made in recognition of Women’s History Month and the 50th anniversary of Title XI, a federal civil rights law that was passed as part of the Education Amendments of 1972. It prohibits sex-based discrimination in any school or other education program.
Honnette was asked about Title IX has affected her.
“Growing up in a small town, sports were an integral part of my upbringing,” she said. “Without Title IX and the opportunities, it provided for girls, I wouldn’t be where I am today. I wouldn’t be the person I am today.
“Carolyn Hummel was a key piece to the establishment of girls sports in our area. She started the girls volleyball and girls basketball programs at Lakefield High School, eventually becoming Jackson County Central.”
Honnette then explained what Women’s History Month meant to her.
“It’s the opportunity to say thank you to everyone before you,” she said. “To every teacher, coach, mentor, colleague, and ally that’s made my path easier to walk. There’s a long list of amazing women before me who’ve paved the way and I hope to make them proud.”
As far as the most influential woman in her life, Danielle again talked about Carolyn Hummel.
“I had amazing female coaches growing up and each one has shaped me,” she commented. “One coach in particular, Carolyn Hummel, volleyball coach and PE teacher, comes to mind. She was a pioneer in women’s athletics and way ahead of her time. She provided life lessons in hard work, leadership, excellence, and resilience just to name a few. She was the type of person you wanted to make proud, and she is greatly missed.”
Honnette did talk about how she sees herself breaking barriers.
“Focusing on being excellent where I am,” she said. “Being a team player and helping us grow as a team – sports medicine team, high performance team and ultimately the Twins organization. I hope to be part of a team that sets the standard for other organizations and other professional teams.”
Danielle, who also participated in volleyball and gymnastics at JCC, attended Baylor University and played softball for the Bears, including the 2007 team that had a 51-16 record and played in the College Women’s World Series in Oklahoma City.
She is able to transfer that softball knowledge on to the baseball field when needed. She was mentioned in a story in The Athletic last season as she and the Twins sports medicine team worked with shortstop Royce Lewis while he was sitting the season out to rehab his surgically repaired knee.
Danielle was stationed at second base and retrieving throws from Lewis, was the number one pick in the 2017 MLB Draft. (Lewis will starting this season with the Triple-A St. Paul Saints).
Despite the limitations, Lewis has never wavered. He challenges himself to not make any errors when fielding the grounders or flipping the ball to physical therapist Danielle Honnette, who stands near a bucket at second base and retrieves throws.
Here’s Danielle talking with Jenna Becerra, host and produced of the weekly Bleav in Softball Show and an analyst with the Pac-12 Network. The portion with Honnette starts at about the 6:30 mark.