KUTZTOWN, Pa. – Though she flew under the radar with conference, regional and national postseason award voting committees, Brianna Stocklin (Deptford, N.J./Deptford Township) was a multi-faceted standout that played a crucial role in Kutztown University softball defending its PSAC East title and winning the program's second-ever PSAC Tournament championship. Monday, Stocklin finally got her due, when she was selected as the 2021-22 KU Female Freshman of the Year.
 
Stocklin joins a growing list of KU Female Freshman of the Year recipients to come from head coach Judy Lawes' team. Teammates Brianna Hughes (Hatboro, Pa./Upper Moreland) (2021) and Bridget Bailey (Norwood, Pa./Interboro) (2019) each won the award within the last four years. A total of 11 softball student-athletes have claimed the award dating back to 1993 and Stocklin is the program's fifth winner in the last eight years.
 
With robust offensive numbers, lightning speed on the basepath and a strong defensive presence for the conference champs and NCAA Division II Atlantic Super Regional qualifiers, it's almost mind-boggling that Stocklin's name never appeared on an all-conference, all-region or All-America team.
 
Yes, Kutztown had outstanding contributions up and down the lineup on its way to a 40-15 overall record. But without Stocklin setting the table out of the leadoff spot all spring, do the Bears achieve the same level of success? It's something Lawes and Stocklin's Golden Bear teammates are glad they don't have to wonder.
 
Stocklin played in all 55 games during her first collegiate season, making 54 starts. She topped the Maroon and Gold in hits (68), at-bats (190), runs scored (48), doubles (19), triples (three) and stolen bases (25). Stocklin nearly led the team in batting average, too, a .358 average placing her one point behind Kate Ostaszewski's (Philadelphia, Pa./Archbishop Ryan) .359.
 
Stocklin paced the PSAC and ranked 16th in NCAA Division II in doubles, but even more impressive was an ability to turn up her game when the stakes were highest. She registered at least one hit in Kutztown's final 18 games and finished with six multi-hit performances in nine postseason games between the PSAC Tournament, NCAA Atlantic Regional and NCAA Atlantic Super Regional. In fact, Stocklin hit a scorching .444 (16-of-36) in the postseason with 12 runs scored, eight doubles, a triple and four RBIs.
 
Kutztown University's annual athletic awards are selected through a vote of the department's administration, head coaches and support staff. Throughout the week, winners will be announced on KUBears.com and the Golden Bears' social media channels.
 
2021-22 Kutztown University Athletics Award Winners
Female Freshman of the Year: Brianna Stocklin (Deptford, N.J./Deptford Township), Softball
Male Freshman of the Year: Announced Tuesday, June 28
Female Athlete of the Year: Announced Wednesday, June 29
Male Athlete of the Year: Announced Thursday, June 30
Women's Coach of the Year: Announced Friday, July 1
Men's Coach of the Year: Announced Friday, July 1
 

KUTZTOWN UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS FEMALE FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR AWARD WINNERS

YEAR	WINNER	SPORT(S)
1993	Nora Dollarton	Volleyball
1994	Deidre Lynn Rhodes	Track & Field
1995	Shannon Daggett	Field Hockey/Track & Field
1996	Claudine Gruver	Swimming
1997	Angie Rideout	Volleyball/Track & Field
1998	Brianne Homyak	Basketball/Softball
1999	Keri Suydam	Basketball
2000	Kellie Evans	Softball
2001	Jessie Didier	Volleyball/Track & Field
2002	Sophia Vucetaj	Basketball
2003	Jessica May	Golf
2004	Molly Lare	Cross Country/Track & Field
2005	Kim Kelty	Soccer
2006	Steph Denlinger	Softball
2007	Kaitlin Arbogast	Sofball
2008	Ashley Pinter	Track & Field
2009	Chelsea Bressler	Soccer
2010	Katie Lynch	Softball
2011	Erin Reynolds	Field Hockey
2012	Mary Kociencki	Softball
2013	Katie Catania	Track & Field
2014	Katie Miller	Soccer
2015	Danielle Amato	Softball
2016	Sara Keeny	Softball
2017	Maddie Mohr	Soccer
2018	Rylee Derr	Basketball
2019	Bridget Bailey (Norwood, Pa./Interboro)	Softball
2020	Casey Remolde	Basketball
2021	Brianna Hughes (Hatboro, Pa./Upper Moreland)	Softball
2022	Brianna Stocklin (Deptford, N.J./Deptford Township)	Softball