A multi-sport athlete during her days at Escalon High School, Kacey (Ball) Cheary kept up her hectic pace in college … and her dedication to soccer and basketball have earned her a place in the Modesto Junior College Athletics Hall of Fame.
The formal announcement for the Hall of Fame induction from MJC indicated that 15 new members would be enshrined during the 2026 ceremony. The list included nine athletes, two coaches, two contributors and two teams. Cheary was among the athletes selected for this year’s class.
According to the MJC announcement, she was honored for her efforts on behalf of MJC Women’s Soccer/Basketball from 2006-2008. She was noted as “a standout soccer defender (CVC and Big 8 Defender of the Year) who then competed at Idaho State University. She also left her mark as one of MJC’s most versatile women’s basketball players.”
Her nomination came from her MJC basketball coach Mike Girardi and MJC soccer coach Steve Aristotelous.
Now a speech language pathologist for the Escalon Unified School District working with students at Escalon High School, Van Allen Elementary and Gateway Charter Academy, the Escalon High alum admits to being a little taken aback by the honor, as she isn’t one to tout her own accomplishments.
“I went to MJC from the fall of 2006 to the spring of 2008,”Cheary said. “I did two years with basketball and soccer and one year of track.”
She was spotted at a soccer practice by MJC track coach Mary Shea, who encouraged her to also take part in track.
“My dad (Gary Ball) was like, ‘why not?’,” Cheary remembered, chuckling.
She did the 100 and 200 sprints and also took part in the 4-by-100 relay team.
“We did make it to state for the 4-by-100 team,” she noted.
But it was in soccer where she made the most impact, including winning the Big 8 Defender of the Year honors.
She said starting at Modesto Junior College was a good choice for her, giving her the option to explore careers while still staying active in sports.
“A lot of people come out of high school not knowing what they want to do,” Cheary said. “MJC was a perfect transition, allowing me to play sports longer and get some general ed and transfer courses out of the way.”
She then went on to Idaho State University in Pocatello to play for the Bengals on a soccer scholarship.
“When you transfer in as a junior and play a sport you have to declare a major,” Cheary said, adding that her mom Caryn was instrumental in guiding her to choose a career that would be rewarding and fulfilling.
That, in turn, led her to speech language pathology and she finished her bachelor’s degree while playing NCAA Division I soccer at Idaho State, then stayed to obtain her Masters there.
She later married fellow EHS alum Cody Cheary and they now are raising their three children in Escalon.
Cheary said her first year at MJC was a little tough, in terms of the soccer team dynamic, while the second year was “amazing” based on the camaraderie and friendships she formed.
Cheary was the first defensive soccer player to go into the MJC Hall of Fame and when introducing her during the induction ceremony, coach Aristotelous described her as a player who “could take over a game and dominate defensively” and helped the team to a conference title.
“I want to thank my parents for being two people that not only helped me learn how to play the games but how to love the games,” Cheary said during her remarks at the induction ceremony, also offering thanks to MJC and her coaches for the opportunity to continue playing sports in college. “I want to thank my husband for staying with me through all those sports and all those things that I did at MJC and on, and I thank my friends and family that are here with me today … it’s something very special.”
Now active in coaching youth sports that her kids are involved in, Cheary also did some coaching at the high school level. But it’s helping youngsters learn how to play the games that means the most, as she feels she can help foster a love for sports and focus on teamwork.
As far as the sport she enjoys the most?
“My favorite is the one I’m playing at the time,” Cheary said, “or the team that meshed the best.”
