Minnesota State University - Mankato Athletics

2023: Played in all 50 games for the Mavericks, including 46 starts, primarily in right field…Batted .298 with 45 hits, including seven doubles and a team-leading 12 home runs…Her 12 home runs were tied for the fourth most in a season in team history…Also led the team in RBI with 33…Recorded at least two hits in 13 games…Hit two home runs and drove in five runs in MSU’s win over Assumption (3/3)…Finished second on the team in stolen bases with 12.

High School: A catcher from Granger, Iowa, Ava Smithson is a three-sport athlete in softball, volleyball and track and field at Johnston High School...She has started all three seasons at catcher for the Dragons and has claimed all-conference honors in all three seasons...As a freshman she helped her team finish fourth at the state tournament as she batted .339 with four home runs and 30 RBI...As a sophomore she claimed All-State Second Team honors as she batted .433 with seven home runs and a .821 slugging percentage...As a junior Smithson helped her team to a conference championship as batted .455 with 12 home runs, 65 RBI and a .858 slugging percentage...She would go on to receive all-conference, all-district and All-State honors.

Personal: Ava is the daughter of Todd and Abby Smithson and intends to major in finance/business at Minnesota State.