Followell and Utz Repeat as NFCA All-Americans

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) released its NCAA Division III All-Americans on Wednesday night. For the second-straight season, the Falcons landed two All-America selections with Gina Followell on the All-America First Team and Claudia Utz on the All-America Third Team.

A senior pitcher from Romeoville, Illinois, Gina Followell is making her third-straight appearance on an NFCA All-America Team with a second-team selection in 2021 and a first-team selection in 2022.

Followell once again proved why she is one of the best pitchers in NCAA Division III again in 2023 with 27 victories in 27 starts. She finished the year with 244 strikeouts, averaging 9.30 strikeouts per game. In 183 innings, she only allowed 25 earned runs and 26 walks. She also finished with three saves.

A senior catcher from Lockport, Illinois, Claudia Utz is making her second-straight appearance on the NFCA All-American Third Team. She scored 37 runs and had 44 runs batted in and stole five bases. Behind the plate, she gunned down seven would-be base stealers.

Utz was a threat for the Falcons at and behind the plate again in 2023. She finished with 47 hits with 11 doubles, nine home runs and three triples.

This is the second-straight year that CUW landed two All-American selections.

Utz joined Gina Followell and Amanda Kuca of the women's cross country team as the only student-athletes in the CUW NCAA era in any sport to claim All-America honors in multiple years. Amanda Kuca did so in women's cross country in 2004 and 2005. Dave Buuck was an NAIA Football First-Team All-American in 1982 and 1983.

Gina Followell is the only three-time All-American at Concordia Wisconsin.

The Falcons soared to new heights in 2023 with a school record of wins at 40-5 and advancing to the NCAA Tournament Super Regional Tournament for the first time.

For the complete list of selections, click here.