LUTHERAN ALL-CONFERENCE

MARIA ZYLSTRA earned all-Big East. – Photo by Jenni Pickel

Maria Zylstra made quite a splash as a freshman on the Lutheran/Christian soccer team.

The forward led the squad with 17 goals to earn second-team all-Big East Conference.

“Actually, I didn’t even know what that meant at first, so that was a really nice surprise for me,” Zylstra said.

Her father explained the accomplishment, and she’s been proud ever since.

“I never really expected that,” she said.

Teammate Ambryn Diener, a junior midfielder, earned all-BEC honorable mention after leading L/C in assists.

“She was a huge part of our team,” Zylstra said. “She was like the core of our team, I would say.”

SOFTBALL

Half of the team’s six players on the diamond made all-BEC honorable mention: senior shortstop Julia Richardson, junior pitcher Kami Wiltzus and freshman first baseman Kara Thimmig.

Richardson led the Crusaders with 19 stolen bases, 16 runs and 13 walks.

Wiltzus went 5-8 in the circle and struck out 82 batters in 72 innings.

Thimmig had a team-high 15 hits and was second with eight stolen bases and 10 RBI.

BASEBALL

Aidan Diener was the lone representative on the all-league team, as the senior catcher landed on the second team. He led the Crusaders with a .375 batting average.