O'Connell earns 2018-19 Female Athlete of the Year recognition

MEQUON, Wis. -- Concordia Wisconsin's Atheltic Department has announced that Molly O'Connell of the Softball program has been named the 2018-19 Female Athlete of the Year.

The CUW Athletic Department released its top stories of the year over the past few weeks and this week will announce its four major award winners from the 2018-19 season. On Monday Ashley Solberg was announced as the Female Career Achievement Award winner and on Tuesday Garrett Wohlford was named Male Career Achievement Award winner, while the Male Athlete of the Year will complete the athletic department's major awards on Thursday.

O'Connell had a breakout year, which resulted in being named National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-Region Second Team honors and All-Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC) First Team accolades. Her efforts on the field helped the Falcons win the NACC regular season title for the first time in program history, to go along with the No. 1 seed.

The New London, Wisconsin native had the best season of her career thus far, with a .638 slugging percentage and six home runs. She also had 11 doubles, 21 RBI and 10 stolen bases, all while hitting .388 and having a .455 on-base percentage. O'Connell's six home runs and .638 slugging percentage both ranked third in the NACC. Defensively she helped turn six double plays and was apart of 200 putouts.

The Falcons compiled a 24-11 overall record this past spring, including a 19-3 record in NACC play. They were predicted to finish sixth in the NACC Preseason Poll, but earned the top seed after a successful season. Their 24 wins are the seventh most in a season in program history and the 19 league wins are the second most in a season.

2018-19 CUW Athletics Awards
Female Career Achievement Award: Ashley Solberg
Male Career Achievement Award: Garrett Wohlford
Female Athlete of the Year: Molly O'Connell
Male Athlete of the Year: announced June 27