Ten Norse Named NFCA Scholar Athletes - Team Ranked 26th in NCAA III

Nov. 7, 2008

Ten members of the 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 (2007-08). This award is annually released by the NFCA the end of October.

Luther’s 10 NFCA Scholar Athletes are Kim Hess ’09 (Paynesville, Minn.), Erika Randall ’09 (Edina, Minn.), Megan Reutlinger ’09 (Decorah, Iowa), Kim Lambert ’10 (Coal Valley, Ill.), Anna Simonson ’10 (Galesville, Wis.), Kelsey Hake '10 (Radcliffe, Iowa) Megan Weirather ’10 (Montrose, Iowa), Amanda Eckhardt '11 (Blue Earth, Minn.), Kim Root '11 (Decorah, Iowa), and Mackenzie Latham '11 (Mason City, Iowa).

As a team, the Norse posted a cumulative grade-point-average of 3.372, that ranked 26th in the NCAA III.

During the 2007-08 season, 2007 Iowa Conference Coach of the Year Renae Hartl led Luther to a second consecutive 30-win season, posting an overall record of 30-12. During her seven seasons as head coach, the Norse have averaged 24 wins a season en route to a record of 171-103. She has coached 24 all-conference, one league MVP, 18 NFCA Midwest Region selections and four All-Americans.