The world of collegiate softball in Florida is bustling with remarkable achievements on and off the field. From UCF’s Shannon Doherty transitioning to a coaching role to multiple teams celebrating academic accolades, these athletes’ and programs’ dedication and success are truly inspiring. Let’s dive into the latest UCF, FSU, UF, FGCU, and UNF highlights.

Shannon Doherty: A New Chapter at UCF

A stalwart of the UCF softball team for the past five seasons, former first baseman Shannon Doherty is set to take on a new role. With her collegiate playing career behind her, Doherty will join head coach Cindy Ball-Malone’s support staff as a graduate assistant for the spring 2025 season.

“I wanted to stick around for a lot of reasons, but the main reason is that UCF is a place I call home, and has helped me develop as an individual so significantly. I wouldn’t be the person I am today without my time at UCF, coach Bear and the program. It’s my turn to continue to make an impact on the other side of things,” Doherty remarked. Her transition from player to graduate assistant exemplifies her deep commitment to the program and her desire to contribute to its future success.

FSU: Academic Excellence

At Florida State University, academic success is as celebrated as athletic prowess. Devyn Flaherty, Kaley Mudge, and Emma Wilson have each secured their fifth appearance on the ACC Academic Honor Roll. They are among the 289 Seminole student-athletes recognized for their academic achievements during the 2023-24 academic year.

The ACC Academic Honor Roll includes student-athletes from the conference’s 15 member schools who achieved a GPA of 3.0 or better. This honor roll is a testament to the hard work and dedication of student-athletes who excel in both their sports and academic endeavors.

UF: Leading the SEC in Academics

The University of Florida’s softball team is also excelling academically. Fifteen members earned spots on the SEC Academic Honor Roll and First-Year SEC Academic Honor Roll, the most in a single season for the program. The nine first-year honorees include Brooke Barnard, Ava Brown, Jocelyn Erickson, Ariel Kowalewski, Cassidy McLellan, Korbe Otis, Keagan Rothrock, Mia Williams, and Mackenzie Wooten.

In addition to the first-year honorees, Baylee Goddard, Avery Goelz, Katie Kistler, Skylar Wallace, Reagan Walsh, and Emily Wilkie received SEC Academic Honor Roll recognition. Notably, Korbe Otis, an NFCA First Team All-American, also earned College Sports Communicators Academic All-America First Team honors. The Gators’ ability to combine academic and athletic excellence sets a high standard for collegiate programs nationwide.

FGCU: Building a Championship Team

Florida Gulf Coast University is preparing for another championship run by bolstering its roster with five new players. The additions include three Division I transfers, one junior college transfer, and one freshman, all set to help the Eagles defend their ASUN title.

  • Kendall Wylie (Wofford): A right-handed pitcher from Cape Coral, Florida, Wylie played her freshman year at Wofford University, where she had notable performances including a four-inning, three-hit game against George Mason.
  • Ana Richiez (Alabama State): A sophomore left-handed pitcher from Miami, Florida, Richiez returns to her home state after a successful freshman year at Alabama State, highlighted by a complete game shutout against Mississippi Valley State.
  • Victoria Ash (Stetson): Returning to Fort Myers after a year at Stetson, Ash’s standout performance came against Robert Morris, where she allowed only one earned run over 4.2 innings.
  • Maddox Thomas (Omaha & Indian River State College): An NJCAA National Champion with IRSC, Thomas joins FGCU with impressive stats, including a .364 batting average and 41 RBIs.
  • McKenzie Cox (Winter Springs High School): A two-time second team All-Conference selection, Cox brings power to the lineup with 12 home runs over her high school career.

Head coach David Deiros is confident these new additions will seamlessly integrate into the team and help maintain FGCU’s competitive edge.

UNF: Enhancing Offensive Prowess

The University of North Florida’s softball team has announced the addition of three transfer newcomers: Lauren “LuLu” Brock, Lauren Bevis, and Kalyn McCarthy. These players are expected to strengthen the Osprey squad’s offensive lineup significantly.

“On offense, I felt like we needed to become a little tougher to play against. We led the ASUN in home runs a year ago, but our on base percentage wasn’t where it needs to be leading into our power kids,” said head coach Jeff Conrad. “Kalyn [McCarthy] is an engine of an offense and the two Laurens [Brock & Bevis] as well are cut out of that same cloth. This should be a much more pressure-causing offense that can really complement our power kids.”