Seven Luther college softball players presented nfca scholar-athlete awards

Oct. 15, 2009

Seven members of the 2009 Luther College softball team have been presented National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Scholar Athlete awards.

To achieve this honor, a student-athlete must have a cumulative grade point average of 3.50 or above on a 4.0 scale, over the previous academic year (2008-09). The official announcement was released by the NFCA Oct. 12.

Luther’s seven NFCA Scholar Athletes are Kim Hess ’09 (Paynesville, Minn.), Kim Lambert ’10 (Coal Valley, Ill.), Anna Simonson ’10 (Galesville, Wis.), Kelsey Hake '10 (Radcliffe, Iowa), Mallory Broderick '12 (Decorah, Iowa), Paige Comentino '12 (Nora Springs, Iowa), and Kelsey Kittleson '12 (St. Ansgar, Iowa).

As a team, the Norse posted a cumulative grade-point-average of 3.352, that ranked 41st in the NCAA III.

During the 2009 season, Head Coach Renae Hartl led Luther to a third consecutive 30-win season, posting an overall record of 35-11. The Norse also qualified for the NCAA III National Tournament for the tenth time in school history, second time in the past three years. During her eight seasons as head coach, the Norse have averaged 25 wins a season en route to a record of 206-114. She has coached 30 all-conference, one league MVP, 24 NFCA Midwest Region selections and five All-Americans.