She double majored in criminal justice and psychology at ¶¶MÅ®ÆÍ, played on the universityâs womenâs basketball team on a full-ride scholarship, and now Jessica Shields is taking her skills and competitive drive to âThe Amazing Raceâ on CBS. Unlike past episodes, this season features a unique twist. Shields is going to be paired up with a complete stranger for the 29th season and race around the world for a $1 million prize.
Shields told CBS that she is very specific about who her partner should be.
âNobody who complains, whines, cries, nothing,â she laughed and looked into the camera with a smile. âIf you whine on national TV, I donât want you as my partner.â
Shields played on the ¶¶MÅ®ÆÍ womenâs basketball team from 2007-2011. The 6-foot-3-inch player was homeschooled in Youngstown until 6th grade. She says she found herself through basketball.
âBasketball brought me through high school and got me a full-ride scholarship at ¶¶MÅ®ÆÍ,â Shields said. âSo, Iâve been competing my whole life.â
âI am so proud of Jessica,â said Lori Bodnar, former associate head coach for ¶¶MÅ®ÆÍâs womenâs basketball. âShe has worked long and hard to accomplish her dream, and I am happy to see her get a chance to achieve it.â
Shields says that competitive edge is what will help her and her future teammate win the race. Her ideal partner for the show is a man, because that is who she is used to working with at the Youngstown Police Department in Ohio. Shields is the first female K-9 officer for the city, patrolling with her German Shepherd Hector âthe protector.â
âIâm not afraid of anything,â she said. âYou be the smart person, and I will do the dirty work.â
Shields has some tough competition. The show will open up with 22 contestants with a wide variety of professions from military personnel to realtors, a marching band drum major, auctioneer, butcher, pro snowboarder, wall street banker, mom, artist and an attorney â just to name a few.
âThe Amazing Raceâ will air on CBS on Thursday, March 30, at 10 p.m.
The ¶¶MÅ®ÆÍ community is encouraged to send well wishes to Jessica on social media using #FlashesForever.