I’ve said it before, and I’ll
say it many, many times again: It’s a great day to be a Marlin!
Congratulations to the Virginia Wesleyan University softball team for
winning their first-ever NCAA Division III National Championship Sunday
with a 1-0 victory over St. John Fisher. Freshman pitchers Courtney
Wright and Hanna Hull combined to hold the Cardinals scoreless in 14
innings between the two games. Our entire campus community is proud to
celebrate these women, an impressive group of scholar-athletes who are
true leaders on and off the field:
LeAnn Adkins ’19 Hanna Hull ’20
Amanda Archer ’18 Lauren Irvin ’18
Liz Bailey ’17 Amy Large ’18
Teresa Cardamone ’18 Jessica Lindsay ’19
Kaylah Duplain ’20 Megan Meindl ’18
Beth Ford ’19 Kasey Newcomb ’17
Madison Glaubke ’20 Alana Peters ’18
Blake Henderson ’17 Kiersten Richardson ’18
Cassetty Howerin ’18 Courtney Wright ’20
Head Coach: Brandon Elliott ’03
Head Assistant Coach: Jim Inzana
Director of Softball Operations: Jim Quinn
Assistant Coach: Josh Freeman
Student Manager: Alexis Smith
The
softball team has earned many accolades this season in addition to the
championship. Left-handed pitcher Hanna Hull earned 2017 Schutt
Sports/NFCA Division III National Freshman of the Year in addition to
First Team All-American honors. Junior first baseman Cassetty Howerin
earned First Team All-American honors after garnering ODAC Player of the
Year. She was also named to the All-American First Team last year,
becoming the fourth Marlin to be named an All-American more than once.
Junior Kiersten Richardson was a Third Team All-American. Head Coach
Brandon Elliott, who has led the team for 10 seasons, was named ODAC
Coach of the Year in a vote of his peers.
This is the first team
championship for Virginia Wesleyan since men’s basketball claimed the
crown in the 2005-06 season. Evan Cox of men's golf won an individual
national championship last year. Read more about the national
championship softball tournament at vwuathletics.com and on the NCAA website.
It
has been an incredible season for the Marlins, and we are thrilled to
see their hard work, dedication and talent rewarded with a national
title. Division III allows student-athletes to “follow their passions
and develop their potential,” combining competitive sports with rigorous
academics and extensive opportunity for campus and community
involvement. Thanks to all of our student-athletes, coaches, athletic
department staff, faculty-team advisors, and others on campus who
demonstrate that spirit daily and make our program so successful.
Special
thanks, also, to the parents and friends who supported the team in
Oklahoma City and beyond. Please keep the momentum going and join us
this afternoon as we welcome our national champions back to campus. The
team will arrive in two separate groups in front of the Jane P. Batten
Student Center at 12:30 p.m. and 2:20 p.m.
Go Marlins!
