Hope College’s Julie Sobieski has been recognized as one of the top student-athletes in NCAA Division III softball for the 2015 season.
The senior designated player from St. Charles, Illinois (St. Charles East HS), has been named to the Capital One Academic All-America ® Division III Softball Team presented by the College Sports Information Directors of America.
Sobieski is one of the 11 first-team honorees and 33 All-America honorees total. She expressed gratitude for all the help she has received.
“My parents were a huge part of it,” Sobieski said. “My teammates were so supportive. I cannot tell you how many things they have done for me — quizzing me on the bus, bringing me food when I’m in the library, encouraging text messages and phone calls. My coaches were so supportive, knowing the challenging academic schedule I had and how much I also wanted to be successful in softball.”
To be eligible for Academic All-America® consideration, a student-athlete must be a varsity starter or key reserve, maintain a cumulative G.P.A. of 3.30 on a scale of 4.00, have reached sophomore athletic and academic standings at his/her current institution and be nominated by his/her sports information director.
Sobieski recently graduated from Hope summa cum laude with a degree in public accounting. She finished with a 3.94 GPA.
Sobieski is taking the multiple-test CPA exam, then moving to Chicago to start a job with the accounting firm Deloitte and Touche.
It is the 53rd time a Hope student-athlete has been selected a CoSIDA Academic All-American.
Sobieski joins football player Kirby Crook and volleyball player Jenna Grasmeyer as CoSIDA Academic All-Americans during 2014-15 school year. It is the eighth time in school history Hope has had at least three CoSIDA Academic All-Americans in the same school year.
Sobieski is the eighth Hope softball player to be named CoSIDA Academic All-American. She follows Laura Tjepkema (2012 and 2013), Kylee Brouwer (2008), Kim Covington (2000), Laurie Byington (1996), Johanna Psconda (1992), DeeAnn Knoll (1987 and 1988) and Anne Hendrickson (1985).
On the field, Sobieski hit .402 this season with eight home runs while helping the Flying Dutch post a 29-11 record and reach the Lake Forest, Illinois regional final in the Division III national tournament.
Sobieski was named a National Fastpitch Coaches Association Second-Team All-Region player earlier this month.
Hope coach Mary VandeHoef said Sobieski excels on and off the field.
“Julie is an incredibly driven person. It shows in every aspect of her life,” VandeHoef said. “Softball is part of her life. She works hard. She has become the hitter she is through that drive, just a high level of expectation for herself.
“It’s true in the classroom. She’s got very lofty goals for herself. She works hard to be the best she can be. Her expectation is to be the best in her class. She puts the work in to make that happen. It shows in the job she landed working at the top accounting firm in the country.”