Pair of Badgers honored by Big Ten
May 06, 2015 | Softball
May 6, 2015
MADISON, Wis.--The Wisconsin softball team garnered a pair of conference awards as freshman Kelsey Jenkins was named as a first-team All-Big Ten selection and senior Maria Van Abel earned a spot on the Big Ten All-Defensive team, the conference announced Wednesday.
Jenkins is the first freshman in program history to be honored as a first-team All-Big Ten selection. She is the 10th Badger in school history to pick up first-team All-Big Ten honors.
"KJ had an outstanding freshmen year in the Big Ten," Wisconsin head coach Yvette Healy said. "To see her grow, develop and improve from the beginning of the year to the end shows how tough and competitive she is."
A native of Tucson, Arizona, Jenkins led the Badgers with a .453 batting average in Big Ten play. In conference action, she had a team-best 20 runs, 17 RBI and an impressive .868 slugging percentage. She collected 24 hits in 22 Big Ten games started.
In addition, she had a team-high .618 on base percentage and was walked 22 times in Big Ten games alone. The 22 walks in conference action alone would have broken the freshman single-season record at Wisconsin but Jenkins shattered the single-season records for freshman and all players after being walked a total of 42 times. The previous single-season walks record of 35 was set in 2013 by Stephanie Peace.
In her final season in the Cardinal and White, Van Abel was remarkable for the Badger defense, holding a .982 fielding percentage in conference action. As Wisconsin's starter in center field for all 52 games, Van Abel tallied 55 put outs for UW while only committing one error.
"We are so proud to see Maria (Van Abel) honored on the Big Ten All-Defensive team," Healy said. "She made big, clutch catches and diving plays all season long. It's fun to see the other coaches in conference commend her too."
A total of 36 players make up the conference's first and second teams, while 10 players were named to the conference's All-Defensive Team.
The Big Ten also announced the 14 Sportsmanship Award honorees from each institution. The student-athletes chosen for the Sportsmanship Award are individuals who have distinguished themselves through sportsmanship and ethical behavior. These student-athletes must also be in good academic standing and have demonstrated good citizenship outside of the sports-competition setting.
Senior Megan Tancill was selected as the Badgers' Sportsmanship Award honoree.
The senior started all 52 games this season at second base and had a .333 batting average with 47 hits and 30 runs.
2015 Softball All-Conference Teams and Individual Awards
First Team All-Big Ten
Allie Bauch, Jr., 2B, ILL
Carly Thomas, Fr., OF, ILL
MEGAN BLANK, Sr., SS, IOWA
Lindsey Schmeiser, Jr., UT, MD
MEGAN BETSA, So., P, MICH
KELLY CHRISTNER, So., OF, MICH
SIERRA ROMERO, Jr., 2B, MICH
Haylie Wagner, Sr., P, MICH
SARA GROENEWEGEN, So., P, MINN
Danielle Parlich, Fr., 2B, MINN
Tyler Walker, Sr., SS, MINN
MJ KNIGHTEN, So., 3B, NEB
Steph Pasquale, Sr., C, NEB
Kiki Stokes, Jr., OF, NEB
Andrea Filler, Jr., SS, NU
Sabrina Rabin, Fr., OF, NU
Erika Leonard, Jr., 1B, OSU
Kelsey Jenkins, Fr., 3B, WIS
Second Team All-Big Ten
Alyssa Gunther, So., 1B, ILL
Shannon Bustillos, Sr., C, MD
Erin Pronobis, Sr., OF, MD
Sierra Lawrence, Jr., OF, MICH
Abby Ramirez, So., SS, MICH
Lauren Sweet, Sr., C, MICH
Lea Foerster, Fr., OF, MSU
Sam Macken, So., 3B, MINN
Kaitlyn Richardson, Sr., 1B, MINN
Emily Lockman, Jr., P, NEB
Andrea DiPrima, Sr., OF, NU
Caitlin Conrad, Sr., OF, OSU
Maddy McIntyre, Jr., SS, OSU
Macy Jones, Jr., OF, PSU
Lexi Knief, Jr., OF, PSU
Lilly Fecho, Jr., P, PUR
Jackie Bates, Sr., OF, RU
Alyssa Landrith, Sr., P, RU
Players in ALL CAPS denote unanimous selection
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All-Defensive Team*
P: Haylie Wagner, Sr., MICH
P: Emily Lockman, Jr., NEB
C: Shannon Bustillos, Sr., MD
1B: Kaitlyn Richardson, Sr., MINN
2B: Danielle Parlich, Fr., MINN
SS: Megan Blank, Sr., IOWA
3B: Shelby Miller, So., PSU
OF: Kelly Christner, So., MICH
OF: Sierra Lawrence, Jr., MICH
OF: Maria Van Abel, Sr., WIS
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PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Sara Groenewegen, So., MINN
PITCHER OF THE YEAR: MEGAN BETSA, So., MICH
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR: Sabrina Rabin, NU
COACH OF THE YEAR: Carol Hutchins, MICH
Player in ALL CAPS denote unanimous selection
Sportsmanship Award Honorees: Alyssa Gunther, ILL; Lora Olson, IND; Haley Hansel, IOWA; Shannon Bustillos, MD; Becca Garfinkel, MICH; Ellie Stoffer, MSU; Kaitlyn Richardson, MINN; Lotte Sjulin, NEB; Anna Petersen, NU; Alex Bayne, OSU; Macy Jones, PSU; Mary Gooding, PUR; Chandler Howard, RU; Megan Tancill, WIS
