Former Riverhead Tomcat Jackson Olson to Compete on Dancing with the Stars

Photo Credit: Patti White

Former Riverhead Tomcats standout and current Savannah Bananas fan favorite Jackson Olson is headed to the ballroom this fall, as the former HCBL star has been announced as a competitor on the upcoming season of Dancing with the Stars.

Olson is currently in his fifth season with the Savannah Bananas, having been a member of the nationally known Banana Ball team since the 2022 season. Known for his energy, personality, and highlight-reel plays, Olson has become one of the most recognizable faces associated with the Bananas’ rise in popularity across the country.

Before becoming a social media and baseball sensation in Savannah, Olson made his mark in the Hamptons Collegiate Baseball League during the 2017 season with the Riverhead Tomcats. Olson hit .303 that summer with three home runs and 27 RBI for Riverhead, helping lead the Tomcats into the postseason.

One of Olson’s biggest performances came on the final day of the 2017 regular season in the first game of a doubleheader against the Westhampton Aviators on July 25, 2017. Olson went 4-for-5 with two home runs and five RBI in a 13-4 Riverhead victory that clinched a postseason berth for the Tomcats. Following that performance, Olson was named HCBL Player of the Week for the final week of the 2017 regular season.

Olson continued his baseball career collegiately at the University of Hartford, where he hit .288 during his career and helped lead Hartford to the 2018 America East Conference championship. In addition to his accomplishments on the field, Olson was also a three-time selection to the America East All-Academic Team.

After graduating from Hartford in 2020, Olson played his graduate season at Stetson University in 2021 before eventually joining the Savannah Bananas organization the following year.