JUDA - Juda senior Jessica Crull signed a National Letter of Intent to play softball for Division II University of Wisconsin-Parkside at Juda High School on Thursday.
"We're proud of all she's put herself through to get herself to this point," Crull's father, Brian, said.
Crull had several coaches interested in recruiting her from schools such as Madison College, UW-La Crosse, University of Dubuque and Upper Iowa University.
She said she picked UW-Parkside, which is in Kenosha, because of its small size and proximity to Milwaukee.
She also liked the coaching staff and sees it as a growing program because of the coach, Scott Wachholz, who has been there for two years.
"I'm really going to have to go in with the mentality of working hard and earning a spot on the team." Crull said.
Crull is a four-year starter for the Panthers, and was named first-team Six Rivers East All-Conference last year. The catcher earned all-district, state all-tournament team and honorable mention all-state last season in helping the Panthers to the WIAA Division 4 state tournament for the first time in program history.
Crull is hitting .405 in her career with a .520 on-base percentage, nine home runs and 96 RBI. She also has 14 doubles and three triples.
"We're extremely excited to add Jessica to our talented 2016 class," Wachholz said. "She's a versatile player with great power to all fields and will definitely give us great looks at a few positions. Jessica has a great tough-minded mentality to compete at the high level of the Great Lakes Conference."
Other athletes from Juda who have gone on to play for Division I and II colleges are Amber Ramos, who is a senior playing softball for UW- Parkside, and Ellen Kiser, who plays basketball for the University of North Dakota.
"We're proud of all she's put herself through to get herself to this point," Crull's father, Brian, said.
Crull had several coaches interested in recruiting her from schools such as Madison College, UW-La Crosse, University of Dubuque and Upper Iowa University.
She said she picked UW-Parkside, which is in Kenosha, because of its small size and proximity to Milwaukee.
She also liked the coaching staff and sees it as a growing program because of the coach, Scott Wachholz, who has been there for two years.
"I'm really going to have to go in with the mentality of working hard and earning a spot on the team." Crull said.
Crull is a four-year starter for the Panthers, and was named first-team Six Rivers East All-Conference last year. The catcher earned all-district, state all-tournament team and honorable mention all-state last season in helping the Panthers to the WIAA Division 4 state tournament for the first time in program history.
Crull is hitting .405 in her career with a .520 on-base percentage, nine home runs and 96 RBI. She also has 14 doubles and three triples.
"We're extremely excited to add Jessica to our talented 2016 class," Wachholz said. "She's a versatile player with great power to all fields and will definitely give us great looks at a few positions. Jessica has a great tough-minded mentality to compete at the high level of the Great Lakes Conference."
Other athletes from Juda who have gone on to play for Division I and II colleges are Amber Ramos, who is a senior playing softball for UW- Parkside, and Ellen Kiser, who plays basketball for the University of North Dakota.
