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University of Kentucky senior Ashleigh Gustafson has been named to the 2012 Southeastern Conference softball community service team it was announced by the league on Monday. The honor is the first for the Louisville, Ky., native.

Gustafson has spent more than 400 hours in the community since her arrival on UK’s campus four years ago. She has worked with organizations such as the Salvation Army, Special Olympics, Habitat for Humanity, YMCA, American Cancer Society, Ronald McDonald House and the Susan G. Koman Race for the Cure.

Furthermore, she has also dedicated her time to local hospitals, horse parks, community schools and churches, softball camps and to the University of Kentucky.

She is a three-time All-SEC Academic team member and twice has won the CATSPY award for community service.

Gustafson was named the 2011-12 Scholar Athlete of the Year at Kentucky and was also inducted into the Frank G. Ham Society of Character at UK which is the highest honor bestowed on Wildcat athletes.

Article Posted on http://www.ukathletics.com/sports/w-softbl/spec-rel/050712aaa.html

Ashleigh is a 2008 CAL graduate.

Bradley Ledford and Allison Foster were selected for the Forcht Bank/Kentucky High School Athletic Association Sportsmanship Recognition Program. Both were presented as the Region 7 winners for the KHSAA sportsmanship award Sunday evening at the state banquet. KHSAA awards a sportsmanship award each year to one boy and one girl from each region.

Congratulations Bradley & Allison!

Senior Ivan Talley signed a letter of intent to play football at Centre College. Ivan made official visits 

to Hanover and Rose Hulman, but decided on Centre because of its academics.

“Centre is a great school. I love the football coaches and I think they can do big things,” said Talley.

Ivan’s parents, Parnell and Melanie Talley, thanked everyone for their support of Ivan. “We have been at CAL since kindergarten and are blessed to be a part of this school,” said Mrs. Talley.

Talley has played football at CAL since the second grade and has won numerous awards including All-district team his junior year, and Offensive MVP and District Player of the Year his senior year.

“It has truly been a pleasure to coach Ivan. He is a big part of this senior class and I wish I had him for another year. Football is a team sport and Ivan exemplifies that. I look forward to following his career and watching him play,” said CAL head football coach, Stefan Lefors.

“I’ve gotten to see Ivan’s football career over the years and even had the opportunity to coach him. It has been a wonderful experience to see his journey,” said Darin Long, CAL Director of Athletics.

Ivan ended the signing ceremony by thanking his teammates, coaches, and friends for their support. Teammate Andrew Risher closed in prayer.

Haley Rose to Play Tennis at Georgetown College

CAL senior, Haley Rose, along with family, friends, and teammates, attended a ceremony Monday, April 23rd, honoring Rose’s decision to play tennis for the Georgetown College Tigers next year.

CAL Girls’ Head Tennis Coach, Jeff Mallory, said, “I have enjoyed coaching Haley. She has been an integral part of our team. She is incredibly respectful and intelligent. It has been a privilege to see her grow personally and athletically.”

“Haley is very talented. Her best tennis is ahead of her. I’m excited to see how she does at Georgetown,” said CAL Boys’ Assistant Tennis Coach, Todd Hammonds. Coach Hammonds has coached Rose individually for five years.

“I wouldn’t be playing at the college level without the help of my coaches. It’s sad to be moving on, but exciting as well,” said Haley.

Rose has played tennis since the age of five and was the first female tennis player at CAL to play varsity as a 7th grader. She decided on Georgetown College because of its size and tennis program and is planning to major in Business and Political Science.

Senior, Allison Foster, broke the Kentucky High School Athletic Association’s record for triples during a 19-2 victory over Kentucky Country Day. The previous state record of 36 career triples was set by Daviess County’s Tabitha Embry.

“Allison is probably the best softball player I’ve ever coached. She is the leader of our team and that describes her whole life,” said CAL softball coach, Kyle Mullins.

Foster was awarded First Team ALL State in 2011, as well as ALL 7th Region Kentucky in 2009, 2010, & 2011. Allison’s pitching record is 22-7 (0.62 ERA) with 381 strike outs in 193 innings. Her hitting average is .566, with 12 triples, and 35 RBI’s. Allison has played Varsity softball for the Centurions since the 8th grade.

Allison is eager for the next chapter in her softball career at Bellarmine University where she plans to major in Exercise Science.

Matt DeVries, a senior at CAL, signed a letter of intent to play lacrosse at Wheeling Jesuit University next year. Matt has played lacrosse at CAL for 6 years and was surrounded by friends, family, and teammates as he signed his letter of intent on Tuesday.

“I chose Wheeling Jesuit because it was the best option for me academically and athletically,” said Matt. Matt also made an official visit to Limestone College in South Carolina.

CAL head boys’ lacrosse coach, Phil Brock, said, “I have had the opportunity to coach Matt since 2008 and he has put in total dedication on and off the field. I commend him for that.”

“Only 2% of players get to play men’s Division I or Division II lacrosse. What an accomplishment! It has been a blessing to be a part of Matt’s lacrosse career,” said CAL JV lacrosse coach, Stan Lott.

Both Coach Brock and Coach Lott thanked and commended Jeff and Kelly DeVries, Matt’s parents, for their support to them personally and to the CAL lacrosse program.

“Timing is everything with God. He placed Matt exactly where he needed to be. Coach Lott has been a great mentor, and Coach Brock has expanded Matt’s knowledge and has worked him hard. I’m so proud of him,” said Mr. DeVries.

The ceremony concluded with prayer from teammate, Zach Dannelly, and with Matt thanking his parents, coaches, and friends for their support.

Matt is the first CAL male lacrosse player to sign a letter of intent to play at the college level. He looks forward to his lacrosse career at Wheeling Jesuit where he intends to major in business.

As a high school senior, Mackenzie Soldan was the top-ranked member of the U.S. Juniorwheelchair tennisteam, and she was ranked number one in the Women’s division, too. She also loved wheelchair basketball, and in 2010 she was recruited to play for the University of Alabama’s women’s wheelchair basketball team, ranked number one nationally. Mackenzie thought her days of playing tennis were on hold, at least until after college.

Then, in late October 2011, Soldan received a phone call telling her a member of the U.S. tennis team had dropped out of the Parapan American Games, and she was next in line to compete. Despite her lack of practice, Soldan decided to go – and she brought home gold medals forsinglesand doubles.

Those wins also brought another prize: the right to compete in the 2012 Paralympic Games in London.
Mackenzie, who lost the use of her legs after surgery for a spinal cord tumor, admits she’s very competitive. Her mother tells a story of young Mackenzie at her first national track meet. “No one told her where the finish line was, so she just kept going and going until people flagged her down!” Mackenzie won that race.

As a tennis player, Soldan has represented the U.S. at competitions in Sweden, Italy, England, France, Mexico, and Turkey. She says her favorite stroke is her forehand, “because I can just smash it.” In preparation for London, she and her coaches are working on speed, endurance, and explosiveness.

Article Posted http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/medal-quest/athletes/detail/mackenzie-soldan/

Mackenzie is 2010 CAL graduate.  Watch the video below to see Mackenzie’s story.

Kentucky High School Track and Cross Country Hall of Fame coach, Harry Greschel passed away on Thursday, April 19th. Mr. Greschel taught at Christian Academy of Louisville from 1984-1989 and was the Athletic Director for two years and Cross Country Coachfor eight years. This past year was CAL’s 5thannual invitational in his honor with 23 schools participating.

Coach Greschel started the track program at Valley High school in the mid-fifties where he taught and also coached swimming for 13 years. He and three others started track as a sport in Jefferson County Schools.

“Harry was an outstanding coach, official and mentor. He did so much to further the sport at Valley and CAL. He was like a dad to me growing up and will definitely be missed, ”said Linda Sarrett, KHSAA and USATF cross country and track official and Youth Chair for Kentucky USATF.

“I have very fond memories of Mr. Greschel. I played basketball at CAL starting my 7thgrade year and he was my coach for several of those years. I remember he was always so soft spoken but pushed me to my limits on the basketball court. One of my fondest memories is sitting in his US History class, listening to him read out of the book. He would put one foot up on a chair, lay the book across his knee and read…and occasionally look over his reading glasses, that he wore at the very end of his nose, making sure everyone was awake and listening. I can still see his expression over the glasses when he caught us not paying attention…It was priceless. Heaven has gained a true angel! I am proud to say that I knew him well and he will be truly missed!”

Kristin (Mills) Marshall-1990 CAL graduate

“Mr. Greschel was the kind of guy that just made you feel like you were his own child. I remember going to his classroom and chatting with him during lunch and even before and after school. He would always give me a hug and made me feel like I was special.Mr. Greschel will be greatly missed. He was a wonderful, wonderful human being and made a remarkable impression on so many lives. He is celebrating in Heaven today.”

Ginger Halliburton Torrens – 1991 CAL graduate

Harry Greschel was also an Air Force and Navy veteran and retired from Kentucky Air National Guardas a full Colonel. He is survived by his loving wife of 59 years, Edith McCamish Greschel; sons, Brad Greschel and Brian Greschel (Leanne); grandchildren, Shawn Greschel and Zachary Bloyd; and brothers, Alan Greschel (Gene) and Phillip Greschel (Merrill).