Mankato, Minn. --- Minnesota State senior pitcher Kendra Huettl has been crowned the 2012 Capital One Academic All-America of the Year as the top NCAA Division II softball student-athlete.  In doing so, the North Mankato, Minn., native, becomes the second player in school history to achieve the feat, and the first since Lisa Walters (women’s basketball) did so in 1988.

Huettl, who holds a nursing degree from Minnesota State, finished her academic career at Minnesota State with 3.99 grade point average.  A three-time Academic All-NSIC selection, Huettl was named a Third Team Academic All-American by Capital One in 2011.  Additionally, last season she was tabbed the Elite 88 award winner at the NCAA championships as she had the highest grade point average at the event.  This marks the 38th time that a Maverick has earned Academic All-America honors and the eighth time that a player has won the award more than once.

Huettl, who was named a Capital One First Team Academic All-American as well on Wednesday, pitched to a 24-4 record this past season to compliment her 1.39 earned run average.  A First Team All-NSIC selection, opponents hits just 1.86 off her this spring as she struck out 247 batters and yielded just 53 runs, 40 of which were earned in 202 innings of work.  During her career at Minnesota State she was 92-32 pitching 73 complete games in 125 career starts.  She leaves MSU ranked first in career strikeouts 772 and appearances (153) and second in games started (125), wins (92), innings pitched (789.2), shutouts (25) and saves (8). During Huettl’s five years at Minnesota State (she redshirted in 2008), the Mavericks played to a 220-74 record.

“Kendra exemplifies what a student-athlete is all about,” said head coach Lori Meyer.  “She is a perfect example of the NCAA Division II philosophy.  Kendra has been a great representative of our University and athletic department during her time here and our hat goes off to our nursing department who worked with us to make sure that she could play both softball and get her degree.  I couldn’t be more proud of her of how she balanced her academics and athletic workloads.  She is a role model for not only our team but our University.”

The Capital One Academic All-America teams are voted on by members of the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).  To be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must maintain at least a 3.30 GPA and be a sophomore in academic standing.   

Minnesota State finished the 2012 season with a 49-10 record and were crowned the 2012 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Regular Season and Tournament Champions.  

To view the complete release, including a list of MSU All-Americans as well as Huettl's career awards and where she ranks on MSU's all-time and single-season lists, click HERE