Submitted Photo: Mariah Myers, a junior currently enrolled at St. Edmond, has verbally committed to the University of Iowa's softball program.

Mariah Myers has played and camped all over the United States.

At the end of the day, the Fort Dodge resident felt there was no place like home.

Myers announced a verbal commitment to the University of Iowa softball program on Wednesday, ending a brief recruiting process just five days after schools were allowed to present formal offers.

Myers, a junior currently enrolled at St. Edmond, felt comfortable right from the start with head coach Renee Gillispie’s squad. When she was officially contacted last Friday — softball players aren’t allowed to receive scholarship offers before Sept. 1 of their junior year, per NCAA rules — Myers knew she wanted to be a Hawkeye.

“Iowa is a top-notch academic school,” said Myers, a two-time all-state honoree at Fort Dodge Senior High who spent this past summer playing with the Iowa Premier 16U national team. “Athletically, the Big Ten is going to be the best conference for college sports in America (with the addition of Southern Cal, UCLA, Oregon and Washington in 2024).

“Iowa’s softball facilities are fantastic. The coaching staff and players really make it feel like a family, and that’s what I valued.”

Myers is an Extra Inning Softball “Extra Elite 100” national prospect. The infielder received over 60 Div. I camp invites before this fall, spending time on campuses like the University of Oklahoma and University of Texas.

The draw of playing less than three hours away was too enticing to pass up, though.

“I can’t wait to play in front of family and friends again,” Myers said. “The Iowa fan and alumni base is incredible.”

Myers, who won’t be on campus in Iowa City until 2025-26, hasn’t decided on a major yet. She is currently taking classes at both Iowa Central Community College and St. Edmond, where she will be eligible to suit up for head coach Bill Shirbroun’s Gaels this fall.

“I have an idea, but I’m not sure about my major yet,” Myers said. “I’m not going to play softball forever, so academics are equally as important to me as athletics.”

Myers hit .453 with Premier this past season, with 36 home runs and 135 RBI in just 311 at-bats. She scored 128 times and had 44 doubles. Her team placed third nationally.

Former Fort Dodge Dodger all-staters Jalen Adams and Tory Bennett are entering their true sophomore years with the Hawks. Adams (pitcher) and Bennett (shortstop) were both Iowa starters this past season.

Adams and Bennett were juniors and Myers was an eighth-grader on the 2021 FDSH Class 5A state softball championship squad.