COMMUNITY JOURNALISM: Mount Mercy's Mims finds home and success with Mustangs

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By Chad Cooper, community contributor

CEDAR RAPIDS - Micha Mims' journey to happiness and fulfillment in basketball is on its final leg.

A well-known name around the Cedar Rapids area after seven years of stellar basketball, Mims is finishing up her senior season at Mount Mercy and has the Mustangs prepped for a post-season run.

A former Cedar Rapids Washington standout, Mims is the second-leading scorer for the Mustangs and one of the most experienced team leaders.

Her college career took some unexpected turns after helping the Warriors to three state tournaments, including a pair of runner-up finishes.

A second-team all-stater as a senior, Mims' career started at Wayne State College in Nebraska, but she struggled in her first year. The departure of head coach Ryun Williams, coupled with being away from family, contributed to her unhappiness.

“I was at a really tough cross road with where I was in my life and what I was willing to do to be happy with both school and ball,” she said. “I loved Wayne State, but things didn't work out the way I had planned with basketball.”

Fer former coach at Washington, Frank Howell, told her good things about Mount Mercy and its coach, Aaron Jennings.

“Talking with Coach Jennings really made me fall back in love with the game of basketball, which was something that I could feel myself losing while attending Wayne State,” Mims said. “I knew after talking to him the first time that Mount Mercy is where I wanted to be. No doubt about it.”

Another reason Mount Mercy felt so right was Mims' desire to be closer to her family.

“It helped knowing that I was going to have my family, my backbone, right here supporting me again after not being able to see them while at Wayne State,” she said.

Mims has flourished at Mount Mercy, earning academic and basketball honors. The 5-7 guard is averaging 15 points per game and leading the team in assists and free-throw percentage.

“On the court and off the court I expect our seniors to lead our team and that's exactly what Micha has done,” Jenning said. “(Micha) is almost like another coach, along with our other seniors, in helping to get this team as successful as we can be.”

The Mustangs sit second in conference and are ranked 15th in the nation.

“I expect nothing but great things for us this year,” Mims said. “We have the ability to go far if we play the way we are capable of.”

Mims also has a clear plan for her future after she graduates. She will pursue a Master's Degree in Sport Management or Sport Administration and would like to get a position as a graduate assistant on a women's basketball staff.

“Our coaches never let us forget that we are student-athletes and that the student comes first,” she said. “We are encouraged in every way to perform in the classroom and on the court. They have helped mold me into the person I am proud to say I am.”

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