Kiehsa Pickeral (now Downs) was a dominant force for the Terps during her time with the Maryland Softball program. Throughout her career, Pickeral was named a Mid-Atlantic Second Team All-American, an All-ACC First Team selection, and was the runner up for ACC Rookie of the Year. Pickeral also led the team in RBI, slugging percentage, and tied for team lead in home runs. 

"As a student athlete I learned to multitask effectively through managing classes, studying, practice, weightlifting, and homework as well as traveling to and from games. Prior to attending University of Maryland, I had recently lost my father, so in addition, I had to balance personal and family responsibilities including checking on my mom and siblings, visiting home when possible, etc. Time is one of our most valuable resources and I really credit the student athlete experience for my abilities to manage time, prioritize responsibilities and successfully see task through to completion." 

Pickeral is now married to her husband Nick, and has two children, Clara (7) and Caleb (5). She currently resides in Hughesville, Maryland, and has enjoyed spending quality time with family during the pandemic.