CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - - Hard work on the field has paid off for the Wilmington University softball team this year, as noticed as its first appearance in the NCAA Division II National Softball Championship, but hard work in the classroom for four years has paid off for one student-athlete as junior Haley Downin was awarded the NCAA Elite 90 Award tonight at the Championship Banquet.
According to the NCAA website, "The Elite 90, an award founded by the NCAA, recognizes the true essence of the student-athlete by honoring the individual who has reached the pinnacle of competition at the national championship level in his or her sport, while also achieving the highest academic standard among his or her peers. The Elite 90 is presented to the student-athlete with the highest cumulative grade-point average participating at the finals site for each of the NCAA's 90 championships."
Haley Downin (Pasadena, Md.) is graduating this spring with a bachelor's degree in psychology with a 3.991 cumulative grade point average. She will be returning to Wilmington to study for her master's in applied science.
On the field this year, Downin is a .316 hitter, collecting six doubles, a triple, and a homer with 21 RBI. For her career, she is a .326 hitter with 143 career hits, collecting 30 doubles, three triples, two homers and 57 RBI. She has also scored 83 more runs, adding 28 stolen bases in her four-year career. Downin has also made 38 appearances in the circle for the Wildcats, amassing 137.2 innings with a 4.42 ERA and 80 punchouts in her career.
Haley Downin and the Wildcats begin their trek through the NCAA Division II Softball Championship on Thursday when they face fifth seed Grand Valley State at 1:30 p.m.