Lehigh University Athletics
Formation of Softball Partnership announced
4/30/2009 12:00:00 AM | Softball
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BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Lehigh Athletics recently announced the launching of the Lehigh Softball Partnership, an extension of the Lehigh Athletics Partnership. This new organization will connect, engage and involve former softball student-athletes in a sport-specific community that is aimed at supporting the current student-athletes at Lehigh, while also connecting former teammates with one another.
“This is just a first step, and an exciting one, in a series of steps we have planned to build sport-specific partnerships for each of our varsity sports,” said Bill Griffin ‘79, Associate Director of Athletics. “The mission of the Athletics Partnership is to provide a framework and support system that will enable our former student-athletes to remain connected to their Lehigh sports program, and all who participated in it, in a manner that’s fun and impactful for the sport they played.”
Kat Kotula ’96, a two-time All-Patriot League selection during her undergrad days, will serve as the Alumni Ambassador for the Softball Partnership. “The Lehigh Softball Partnership is an alumnae network which serves to unite former players from all generations of Lehigh Softball,” Kotula explained. “Irrespective of our ages, we are all bonded by the privilege of forever being part of the Lehigh Softball Family. Our traditions, stories and lives should be celebrated! This is why the partnership is so important. Our goal is to encourage as many Lehigh Softball Alumnae to stay connected, engaged and involved – with each other, with the current softball program, and with our school.”
For Kotula, it was an easy decision to step up and assume a leadership role within the Softball Partnership. “Quite simply, I had an awesome experience at Lehigh, both academically and athletically. From the administrators in the Lehigh Athletics Department, to the Troyans on the softball field, so many people positively influenced my life at Lehigh.” She continued, “I view my leadership role with the partnership as an opportunity to give back to the Lehigh community that means so much to me, and a way to stay connected and involved with the softball program. I want to do whatever I can to make sure that every student-athlete at Lehigh has the same great experience that I did.”
Kotula will work closely with Lehigh Head Softball Coach Fran Troyan as well as Roseann Corsi from the Lehigh Athletics Partnership staff, in the planning, organization, and execution of the Softball Partnership’s mission. Also involved in the organization’s infrastructure will be a Communications Chairman, an Events Chairman, a Career Networking Chairman and a Chairman of Program Support. Kathy Mitchell ’78 and Julie Sterrett ’07 have committed to co-chair the Communications role, Heidi Cohen ’96 and Jen Hilton ’92 have signed on as the Events Chairwomen and Helen Richardson ’77 will serve as an Era Representative. The organization plans to fill the Career Networking and Program Support role in the near future.
“Many times “life” and the busyness of our daily routines get in the way of staying connected with incredibly important people in our loves,” explained Troyan. “There have been many, many people who have given their blood, sweat and tears to help build this Softball Program. What the Lehigh Softball Partnership does is allow for me and my present team to stay in meaningful contact with the alums, and it allows the alums from different eras to connect and share their experiences.”
Kotula’s time she spent in the Brown and White as a student-athlete and the rewarding experiences she had led her to want to give back to Lehigh, and ensure a positive experience for today’s student-athletes. “My years as a Lehigh student-athlete have given me so much: a competitive drive, a willingness to work hard, discipline, and always believing that nothing is impossible. But, perhaps the most meaningful part of my Lehigh Softball experience is the many, many friends that have remained a constant in my life. My life is definitely more complete because of my Lehigh experience.”
She went onto add her thoughts on being an active member of the Lehigh Softball alumni community. “I have always been passionate about my Lehigh experience, and particularly about the Lehigh Softball program. I came into Lehigh Softball when the program was considered an “underdog” in the Patriot League. My graduating class of 1996 not only won the first-ever Patriot League title for Lehigh in 1993, but also went onto win titles in 1994, 1995, and 1996. I can remember the sense of pride I had every time I put on that Lehigh uniform. When I graduated, I couldn’t help but feel like my teammates and I had helped to lay the foundation for something special at Lehigh. As you can imagine, through the years as the softball program has skyrocketed in success and gained national prominence, my pride has swelled at what has become of those early beginnings. This is what makes me stay connected and involved with Lehigh Softball, and this is what makes me an extremely proud alumnus.”
The Softball Partnership officially kicked off on the weekend of April 24-25 as Lehigh welcomed back a large number of alumni that took in a Lehigh Valley IronPigs game on Friday evening and gathered for a pregame tailgate on Saturday morning on the Goodman Campus. The alumni contingent then made its way to Kaufman Field and watched the current Mountain Hawks sweep league foe Holy Cross, earning its 11th consecutive Patriot League regular season championship in the process.
“Division I softball and recruiting continues to get more and more competitive,” Troyan explained. “Ultimately, we hope the Lehigh Softball Partnership will help us meet those challenges. Kat Kotula has always done things in the right way. I am confident that through Kat’s leadership the Lehigh Softball Partnership will quickly become the best of its kind.”
For more information on the Lehigh Softball Partnership or to become actively involved, please contact Kat Kotula at kkotula@state.pa.us.
