BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - With the Illinois Wesleyan University softball season complete, head coach Tiffany Prager announced the team's annual awards Wednesday, May 27. Senior Gianna Certa (Third Lake, Ill.-Grayslake North) was voted the team's Most Valuable Player, while sophomore Julia Wilkens (Bartlett, Ill.-Bartlett) garnered the Most Improved Award. Senior Caroline Gatchell (Grayslake, Ill.-Carmel Catholic) was selected as this season's Gwen Meyer Award recipient. Additionally, 19 Titans were awarded letters.
Certa, the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin Pitcher of the Year, reeled in team MVP honors for the second time in her career. She led the pitching staff with 27 appearances, including 23 starts, while racking up a 13-4 record. Certa compiled a 2.00 ERA, the best on the team, and was credited with 12 complete games, seven shutouts, and two saves. She threw a five-inning no-hitter behind a career-high 11 strikeouts against Carroll, April 24. The senior righty fanned 98 over 129.1 innings. She was voted NFCA All-Region 8, was a First Team All-CCIW selection, and a four-time CCIW Pitcher of the Week awardee.
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Wilkens made the most of her first season as an everyday starter for the Titans. Recognized for her development over the course of the year, Wilkens appeared in all 43 games, starting 36 of them in left field. She hit .244 with 19 hits, 16 runs scored, and 10 walks. The Bartlett, Ill. product was successful on 13-of-14 steal attempts, good for fourth-most swipes on the team.
Gatchell, the Gwen Meyer Award recipient, put together a career year for the Green and White on the field. She appeared in 24 games, making 10 starts, while compiling an 8-4 record. The Grayslake, Ill. native logged 87.1 innings with 62 strikeouts, both good for second-best on the team. She posted a 3.13 earned run average, threw three complete games, one shutout, and notched two saves. Away from competition, Gatchell served as Illinois Wesleyan's Co-SAAC President and led countless community service efforts for the team, athletic department, and her sorority. Additionally, she was a vital member of the athletic communications staff.
Illinois Wesleyan finished the season with a 31-15 record on the year. IWU claimed the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin regular-season championship with a 15-1 league record, and went on to claim the league's tournament title and automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. The Titans advanced to the championship game of the Waverly Regional, before bowing out with a 6-4 loss to No. 2 University of Redlands, who is currently up one game to none in the NCAA Division III National Championship series.
