The Wright City grad had garnered interests from multiple Divsion II schools after a stellar season behind the plate for the Wildcats. Christopher was a first-team All-State selection in 2007. But the catcher possessed a greater vision -ða desire to play for a Division I university. Battling for a roster spot at Mizzou meant Christopher would have to fund the majority of her education herself. "It was totally her decision to make," said mother, Sandy Christopher. "It was a dream she had. I just kept telling her to remember that those bills will still be there at the end." Megan decided the risk and the satisfaction of becoming a Tiger was worth forgoing a free education. Christopher was met with criticism. Even her own parents weren't certain she had made the right choice. Traveling tournaments and select ball had provided Christopher the necessary exposure to garner scholarship offers from many small schools. "I was thinking that all the time and effort we had put into having softball help pay for an education was going to waste," said David. "It was pretty frustrating." But six weeks removed from watching their daughter guide Mizzou to the Big 12 Tournament title, their doubts have subsided. A return trip to Oklahoma City for the College World Series was a humbling one. "It tugs at your hearstrings," said Sandy. "Like when they announced her name at the World Series, I was thinking, 'That's my baby out there! Wow, that's my girl!'" Megan moved into the starting catchers this season after exhibiting improved hitting. "We really saw her hitting take off, and she has made the most of her chance to excel in a starting role," said Earlywine. "Her catching ability was there all along but her hitting has managed to catch up to it." She dropped off near the end of the season but still finished with 27 hits a .303 average. Christopher homered eight times. "In the beginning of the year I fell into a slump," said Christopher. "Coach pulled me aside and told me he needed me 100-percent on defense behind the plate. The hitting came along after that… and confidence goes a long way." Prior to the season, Christopher knew she would have to get her hitting on track. She was so focused on landing a starting role that she spent the majority of her winter break at the batting cage. "We spent so many hours over Christmas break working on her hitting," said Sandy. "I can't imagine how many pitches I threw." She was part of Mizzou's most successful season in program history. The year's team won a school record 50 games and finished as No. 8 in the nation -ðits highest season-ending ranking ever. Mizzou reached the Women's College World Series for the first time in 15 years. Witnessing all of these triumphs come to fruition reassured Christopher she had made the right choice. Early on, she was hoping to just find her place on the team. Watching her team reach the peak from behind the plate is nothing short of a dream turned reality. "I grew up watching the World Series on TV and thinking, I want to play there some day," said Christopher. "It's one of the highest accomplishments for a woman softball player." After spending most of her freshman season in the dugout, Christopher knew she had adjust her swing and tweak her approach at the plate. Coach Ehren Earlywine never doubted Megan's fielding ability. But in the competitive Big 12 Conference, productivity on both offense and defense are necessary to lock down a starting role. "She's a good example of someone who worked to achieve goals and get to where she is," said Earlywine. "She had to prove herself, and that she is deserving of the spot." Christopher began turning heads in early April when she earned Big 12 Player of the Week honors. She batted .500 during a 10 game stretch, cranking out six home runs. She also put in .1000 fielding effort that week. "It shocked the heck out of me when I saw the player of the week news come up on the computer," said Sandy. The acolades continued to roll in for Christopher and the Tigers over the next six weeks. "There was a lot of talk about it at work," admitted David. "I was pretty proud. I wasn't afraid to stick my chest out." During Mizzou's run through both the Big 12 and NCAA Tournaments, many of its game were televised live on ESPN. For a small-town girl from Wright City, it was hard to even fathom. "I tried not to think about all the people that were watching," said Christopher. "But when I got back to Wright City everyone was telling me, 'Hey, I saw you on TV.'" But life in the limelight has become routine for Christopher, who is now recognized by strangers on a consistent basis. "My parents and I went out to eat at Hooters after the World Series games," said Christopher. "There where people there saying, 'Hey, you're the girl that just played in the last game on TV." National media attention and frequent requests for autographs aren't necessarily something Christopher envisioned in her dream of playing for Mizzou. But those extras have elevated her experience to the next level. "I love it because I was at that point in my life once when I wanted autographs too," said Christopher. "I always hate it when they tell us that time is up and some little still doesn't have an autograph." Christopher says wasn't able to truly appreciate the year's accomplishments until the season was over. "I look back now after watching girls at the World Series and compare myself to the other catchers there," said Christopher. "Defensively, I realize that I realistically can compete at that level, and that makes me feel really good."