Eight Huskers Honored By the Big Ten

Freshman catcher Ava Bredwell was named the 2022 Big Ten Freshman of the Year on Wednesday, when the conference announced its postseason awards. Bredwell was one of seven Huskers to earn recognition on an All-Big Ten team, tying Northwestern for the most selections in the league. 
 
Bredwell is the first Husker to receive conference Freshman of the Year honors since Ali Viola was named the 1995 Big Eight Freshman of the Year. Bredwell is only the third catcher to be named the Big Ten Freshman of the Year since the award began in 1985. Bredwell also earned a spot on the All-Freshman Team. 
 
In addition to Bredwell, Nebraska was well represented on the All-Big Ten first and second teams, in addition to the Big Ten All-Defensive team.
 
Abbie Squier (outfield) and Cam Ybarra (second base) were both named to the All-Big Ten first team. Earning second-team All-Big Ten honors were Mya Felder (first base), Billie Andrews (shortstop) and Olivia Ferrell (pitcher). This marks the first All-Big Ten honor for Squier, Ybarra, Felder and Ferrell while Andrews earned all-conference accolades for the second straight season. Nebraska’s five All-Big Ten selections marked its most since the 2014 Big Ten champion Husker had six players earn All-Big Ten recognition.
 
Felder, Ybarra and Squier were also named to the Big Ten All-Defensive team, along with pitcher Courtney Wallace. There were only four Big Ten players who earned a spot on an All-Big Ten team and on the All-Defensive team, and three of those players were from Nebraska (Felder, Ybarra and Squier).With four selections to the All-Defensive team, Nebraska became the first Big Ten team to place four players on the All-Defensive team since the team was created in 2013.
 
Karlee Seevers rounded out Nebraska’s honorees, as she was announced as the Huskers’ Big Ten Sportsmanship recipient.
 
After receiving a bye with a second-place regular-season finish, the Huskers are set to play in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Tournament on Thursday, May 12, at 10 a.m. (CT) against the winner of Wednesday’s game between Penn State and Indiana. The game will be broadcasted live on the Big Ten Network and fans can listen to the action live on the Huskers Radio Network, Huskers.com and select Huskers Radio Network affiliates with the call from Nate Rohr.

2022 Big Ten Softball All-Conference Teams and Individual Awards

PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Rachel Lewis, Grad., OF, Northwestern

PITCHER OF THE YEAR: DANIELLE WILLIAMS, Sr., P, Northwestern

FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR: Ava Bredwell, C, Nebraska

COACH OF THE YEAR: Kate Drohan, Northwestern

 

First Team All-Big Ten

Avrey Steiner, Sr., 2B, Illinois

Cora Bassett, Sr., 2B, Indiana

Jaeda McFarland, So., OF, Maryland

Lexie Blair, Sr., 1B, Michigan

Alex Storako, Sr., P, Michigan

Abbie Squier, So., OF, Nebraska

Cam Ybarra, Sr., 2B, Nebraska

Hannah Cady, So., 3B, Northwestern

Nikki Cuchran, Sr., 1B, Northwestern

RACHEL LEWIS, Grad., OF, Northwestern

Jordyn Rudd, Sr., C, Northwestern

DANIELLE WILLIAMS, Sr., P, Northwestern

Niki Carver, Sr., 1B, Ohio State

Bailey Parshall, Sr., P, Penn State

Rachel Becker, Sr., SS, Purdue

Gabrielle Callaway, Grad., OF, Rutgers

Kyleigh Sand, So., SS, Rutgers

Kayla Konwent, Sr., DP, Wisconsin

 

Second Team All-Big Ten*

Kailee Powell, Sr., 1B, Illinois

Sydney Sickels, Sr., P, Illinois

Taylor Minnick, Fr., OF, Indiana

Megan Mikami, So., OF, Maryland

Hannah Carson, Sr., C, Michigan

Audrey LeClair, Jr. OF, Michigan

Melina Livingston, Grad., 2B, Michigan

Natalie DenHartog, Sr., OF, Minnesota

Chloe Evans, So., OF, Minnesota

Billie Andrews, So., SS, Nebraska

Mya Felder, Jr., 1B, Nebraska

Olivia Ferrell, Sr., P, Nebraska

Maeve Nelson, Sr., SS, Northwestern

Skylar Shellmyer, Sr., OF, Northwestern

Sam Hackenbracht, Jr., DP, Ohio State

Lexie Handley, Sr., P, Ohio State

Cassie Lindmark, Jr., C, Penn State

Fiona Girardot, Jr., 1B, Wisconsin

Ally Miklesh, Sr., OF, Wisconsin

Maddie Schwartz, Sr., P, Wisconsin

* – additional players due to ties

 

All-Freshman Team

Paige Berkmeyer, UT, Illinois

Stevie Meade, OF, Illinois

Lauren Wiles, P, Illinois

Heather Johnson, P, Indiana

Taylor Minnick, OF, Indiana

Ellie Sieler, OF, Michigan

Emily Leavitt, P, Minnesota

Ava Bredwell, C, Nebraska

Grace Nieto, 2B, Northwestern

Kami Kortokrax, SS, Ohio State

Melina Wilkison, OF, Ohio State

All-Defensive Team

P: Courtney Wallace, Sr., Nebraska

C: Jordyn Rudd, Jr., Northwestern

1B: Mya Felder, Jr., Nebraska

2B: Cam Ybarra, Sr., Nebraska

SS: Makenna Dowell, Grad., Minnesota

3B: Kayla Chavez, Fr., Minnesota

OF: Kristina Burkhardt, Grad., Michigan

OF: Abbie Squier, So., Nebraska

OF: Lilia Crouthamel, Sr., Penn State

Sportsmanship Award Honorees: Lakyn Wagoner, Illinois; Grayson Radcliffe, Indiana; Kate Claypool, Iowa; Megan Mikami, Maryland; Lexi Voss, Michigan; Marissa Trivelpiece, Michigan State; Ali Lindner, Minnesota; Karlee Seevers, Nebraska; Lauren Caldrone, Northwestern; Avery Clark, Ohio State; Claire Swedberg, Penn State; Kaeley Hallada, Purdue; Gabrielle Callaway, Rutgers; Morgan Kummer, Wisconsin.