30 years after carrying Olympic torch together, Rhoads family enter Butler County Sports Hall of Fame together
SLIPPERY ROCK — Jence Rhoads has spent much of her life following in her mother’s footsteps.
The 2007 Slippery Rock High School graduate put together a stellar basketball career, just like her mother. She became a standout on the United States handball team, just like her mother. She loves to help make others better, just like her mother.
Come April 24 at Butler County Community College’s Founder’s Hall, Jence will be alongside her mother, Melinda Rhoads, as they receive induction into the Butler County Sports Hall of Fame — just like when they jogged hand-in-hand 30 years ago during another major sports moment in their lives.
Carrying the Olympic torch.
“I was 8, and I still have vivid memories of that,” Jence said. “All these years later, going into the hall of fame together, it feels like this is how it ought to be. My mom has played such a big part in my journey.”
“I can’t believe it’s been 30 years,” her mother said. “I’ve been thinking about that day a lot and our induction coming up. It’s such a special time for us.”
Melinda Rhoads played for the U.S. handball team during the 1984 Summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles. That team upset China and placed fourth, missing a medal.
Prior to the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, past U.S. Olympians were invited to participate in the relay carrying of the torch to the site of the Games.
“No way was I going to say no to that,” Melinda said. “As soon as I got the call, I was in.”
Melinda drove to Erie — where she carried the torch for half a mile — with her husband, three daughters and friends.
“I was about to receive the torch, and I saw Jence and the others standing on the side of the road,” Melinda said. “An official was riding a motorcycle alongside the torch bearers, and I asked him if it was OK if Jence held my other hand and ran with me while I carried the torch. The thought just popped into my head.
“He nodded yes, so we just did it. With all of the safety protocol out there now, that would never be allowed today.”
Jence was happy it was allowed then.
“I was so young, but I understood the gravity of the moment and what it all meant,” she said. “I mean, my mom was an Olympian. How many kids can say that? Now the Olympics are coming back to Los Angeles in 2028. Everything is coming full circle.”
Melinda Rhoads was the first four-year starter in Slippery Rock University women’s basketball history. She has been coaching Slippery Rock Middle School basketball for the past 30 years.
Jence Rhoads became Butler County girls basketball’s all-time leading scorer with 2,170 points as a point guard. She went on to lead Vanderbilt University to the NCAA Tournament all four years she played there.
While her mother enjoys coaching and helping kids, Jence enjoys her career as director of learner success for Ziplines Education in Alabama. She helps adults find proper paths for their careers.
“It’s all about assisting others,” Jence said. “I enjoyed that in basketball, and I enjoy that in my career.”
It was a reunion of that 1984 Olympic handball team which her mother attended that led Jence to a seven-year U.S. handball career of her own, which included a berth in the Pan-American Games.
“At that reunion, my mom learned about a handball team tryout being put together in Alabama and she told me about it,” Jence said. “I went down there and went for it.”
Now, their Hall of Fame careers will culminate with acceptance speeches on the same night.
“This couldn’t have worked out any better,” Melinda said.
Tickets for the BCSHOF banquet are $35 ad are available at butlersportshall.com.
