WSU Athletics wins MVC All-Sports Trophy!

For the fifth time in the last six years, Wichita State University has captured the Missouri Valley Conference All-Sports Trophy and owns a league-best 17 overall titles. Wichita State won its all-sports title for the first time since 2007 in one of the closest results in league history. WSU edged second-place Illinois State by 0.06 points. The Shockers won a league-best four titles (women’s cross country, volleyball, men’s golf and women’s tennis), while placing in the top four in 12 of 15 sports in which they sponsor.

Wichita State has won the All-Sports Trophy 17 times, including 1964-66, 1976, 1978-83, 1987-1988, 2004-07 and 2009. WSU has also been runner-up eight times, the last time being the 1997-98 season. The Shockers finished third in 2008.

The All-Sports Trophy is based on a school’s average finish in each of the sponsored championships by the Missouri Valley Conference. Teams are awarded one point for first, two for second, three for third, etc., and the total accumulated points are divided by the number of sports in which a particular school competes. Finishes in baseball, basketball, soccer, softball, tennis and volleyball are based on regular-season competition. All other sports are determined by finish at the championship tournament or championship meet.

Season in Review

What a season! I cannot believe that this year has flown by so fast that it is now summer and we are getting ready for a whole new team to come in! Even though the season didn't go like we thought it would, 2009 showed a promise of a bright future for Shocker Softball. With most of our starters juniors and underclassmen, and nearly all of our freshmen seeing significant playing time at some point during the season, the 2010 Shockers will be back to form and better than ever!
Several of our athletes had some remarkable seasons and were honored by our conference recently. Sophomore C Heather Gerritse was named 1st Team All Missouri Valley Conference. "Gerr" led the Shocks in batting avg. at .352 and hit a career high 3 HR. In Valley play, she ranked 5th overall with a .375 BA and all 3 of her HR's were hit in conference. Junior 2B Kara L'Huillier was named 2nd team All Missouri Valley Conference after she hit a career high .325 BA, tied for the team lead with 8 HR's, and led the team in RBI's with 34.
Several other Shocks had great seasons and will look to them for bigger things to come next season. Sophomore OF Kiersten Dixon broke out with a career high .296 BA, tied for the team lead with 8 HR's, led the team in 3B's with 2, and knocked in 25 RBI's. Freshman OF Kersti Rowan led the team in SB's, going 15-17 on the season while hitting .278 on the season. Another Freshman, SS Bobo Brown, started off hot hitting over .300 for the 1st half of the season and knocked out 3 HR's. Freshman P Kasha Kolb led the team in K's with 207 on the season while opponents hit only .237 against her in conference.
We are excited to welcome several new faces to our lineup next season! We will have local product Sammie Shook joining our program as well as Texan Danika Miller and Haley Temple of Arizona. All are very talented athletes and are receiving very deserving post season awards for their work on the field and in the classroom.
With the summer months upon us, it means it is time for us to get back out on the road and recruit. We are looking forward to getting out and watching talented athletes and great softball all summer!