NEW MADRID — Three years after graduating from East Prairie High School, Peyton Hodges has found success both academically and athletically at one of the nation’s premier liberal arts institutions.

The 2023 East Prairie graduate recently completed his junior year at Kenyon College, where he is majoring in economics while pitching for the Owls baseball team.

Hodges is spending part of his summer at home before heading to St. Louis for a six-week internship with wealth management firm &Partners. The internship will allow him to gain experience in several departments, including finance and marketing, as he explores potential career paths.

“I’d say right now I’m pursuing being a financial advisor in wealth management,” Hodges said. “I’m hoping to take this internship and see if that really is something I want to pursue or if there’s something else I might like a little bit better.”

While his future career plans are still developing, Hodges said his college experience has broadened his perspective on life.

“The biggest thing I learned is that there’s a different world out there that’s not just Southeast Missouri,” he said. “I’ve met so many people from across the United States and internationally. It’s taught me to be more open-minded and realize there’s a whole lot more out there than you kind of realize just being from this area.”

On the baseball field, Hodges recently completed a strong junior campaign after enduring a difficult sophomore season.

After enjoying immediate success as a freshman pitcher, Hodges saw his performance decline during his second year.

He maintained an impressive 4.04 ERA in his first season against college hitters, while allowing 45 hits in 42 ⅓ innings.

Those numbers ballooned to over 13.00 (ERA) and 37 hits in 20 innings as a sophomore. Looking back, he believes much of the struggle was mental rather than physical.

“I think I put a little too much pressure on myself,” he said. “I had success as a freshman, and I expected to get better. I felt like I needed to do more and take a bigger role. I think I put so much pressure on myself to be something I didn’t have to be.”

Instead of focusing solely on mechanics, Hodges took the time to reevaluate his mindset.

“I took a step back and looked more at the mental side of baseball,” he said. “I stopped trying to throw a no-hitter every game and focused on doing my job and getting each guy out in that moment.”

The adjustment paid off as he returned to form during his junior season.

This past spring, Hodges had a 5.72 ERA and walked just 15 batters in 45 ⅔ innings.

Hodges said he is pleased with how his college career has unfolded.

“Athletically, there’s always room for improvement,” he said. “But academically, my expectations have been met beyond what I thought. Kenyon has gone above and beyond. I’m so thankful to have the opportunity to play baseball there and become educated there.”

He also believes Division III athletics are often misunderstood. While the level of competition is high, Hodges said academics remain the primary focus.

“Ultimately, the reason I’m in college is to earn a degree,” he said. “Our coaches and professors work together really well, and there’s a strong expectation that academics come first.”

As he enters his senior year, Hodges continues to pursue excellence in both arenas, balancing the demands of a rigorous education with the challenges of collegiate baseball. For the East Prairie native, that combination has proven to be the perfect fit.