University of Minnesota Athletics
Richardson Named Senior CLASS Top-10 Finalist
4/7/2015 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Senior CLASS Award Release | Vote HERE
OVERLAND PARK, Kan. - Minnesota softball utility player Kaitlyn Richardson has been named a top-10 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 the Big Ten conference's lone finalist for the award.
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 four 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 201 starts, the two-time All-American has hit for a .392 average with 38 home runs and 168 runs batted in.
This season, Richardson has factored heavily in the Gophers' 30-7 start, hitting .383 with a .471 on-base percentage and a .670 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.
The finalists were chosen by national media from the list of 30 candidates announced in March. Nationwide fan voting begins immediately to help select the winner, and fans are encouraged to submit votes online up to once per day at the Senior CLASS Award website through May 11. Fan votes will be combined with those of the media and Division I head coaches to determine the winners. The Senior CLASS Award recipient for softball will be announced during the 2015 NCAA Women's College World Series, which runs May 28 through June 3 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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