University of Minnesota Athletics
Richardson Named Senior CLASS Award Finalist
3/5/2015 12:00:00 AM | Softball
OVERLAND PARK, Kan. - Minnesota softball utility player Kaitlyn Richardson has been named a finalist for the Senior CLASS Award for her character and work on the field, in the classroom, and in the community. The Phoenix, Ariz. native is one student-athlete on a list of 30 that includes three other Big Ten seniors.
To be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must be classified as an NCAA Division I senior and have notable achievements in four areas of excellence: community, classroom, character and competition.
Richardson has helped lead the Gophers to new heights in her three-plus seasons with the team. With her on the field, Minnesota has posted three 30-plus win seasons, two NCAA Tournament appearances, the team's first-ever NCAA super regional appearance and its first Big Ten Tournament title since 1999. In 182 starts, the two-time All-American has hit for a school-record .402 average with 33 home runs and 152 runs batted in.
This season, Richardson has factored heavily in the Gophers' 14-4 start, hitting .472 with a .545 on-base percentage and a .698 slugging percentage. She also has a 1.000 fielding percentage.
A human resources and industrial relations major with a marketing minor in the Carlson School of Management, Richardson has excelled in the classroom, as well. A four-time member of the Dean's List, she is a two-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree, was a 2013 CoSIDA Capital One Academic All-American and a 2014 NFCA All-America Scholar Athlete. She has also racked up over 100 hours of community service with a plethora of organizations in her time on campus.
Sara Moulton, a senior in 2014, was the Gophers' last top-30 finalist for the Senior CLASS Award.
The candidate class will be narrowed to 10 finalists later in the regular season, and those names will be placed on the official, 10-name ballot. Ballots will be distributed through a nationwide voting system to media, coaches and fans, who will select one finalist. The Senior CLASS Award winner will be announced during the 2015 NCAA Women's College World Series in Oklahoma City.
ABOUT THE AWARD
An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School, the Senior CLASS Award honors the attributes of senior student-athletes in four areas: community, classroom, character and competition. The award program is designed exclusively for college seniors who are utilizing their complete athletic eligibility, remaining committed to their university and pursuing the many rewards a senior season can bring. Premier Sports Management manages the award.
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