March 4, 2015
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -
By Miranda Kulp, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -While some students would love to spend their summers in California, softball player Kristina Brackpool stayed in State College to improve her softball game instead of going back to her West coast home.
This being her sophomore year with the Nittany Lions, Brackpool is starting the year off with determination and drive.
Currently, Brackpool has the second highest batting average on the team and has started every game so far this season for the Lions.
"This summer I really dedicated myself to improving," Brackpool said.
She credits her summer here in Happy Valley for her massive improvement from last year.
"I stayed on campus this summer and it was the best decision I could of made for my game," Brackpool said. "I was taking some summer classes and then dedicating the rest of my time to working out. I was able to work with the team's strength and conditioning trainers and that was a huge help."
Last year, she blasted a solo homer in her lone at bat against Ohio State. She started 25 of 30 games and was batting a .197 which has improved to .340 this season.
Now, this season she is leading the teams in home runs with four so far this season and has a total of 14 RBIs.
"I think looking back on last season and where I am now I can definitely see how I matured as a player," Brackpool said.
The infielder isn't the only one that sees her handwork paying off, the coaching staff has noticed her improvement.
"It's like night and day when comparing last season to this one for Kristina," head coach Amanda Lehotak said...Even after our first few practices I immediately saw an improvement in how she was playing and carrying herself. She's one of our toughest players this year and she's a force to be reckoned with when she's either up to bat or in the infield."
Brackpool is living proof that hard work and dedication goes a long way. Although she's already shown a massive improvement from last year, number 52 is constantly trying to continue her growth.
"I'm honored to be on this team so I want to never stop trying to improve," Brackpool said. "To me Penn State softball is more than just a team, it means I'm part of a family and I'm going to go to practice everyday giving it my all not only for me but for this family."
The California native explains that although central Pennsylvania is much different than her hometown in Valencia, California, she fell in love with the school and its softball program right away.
"Being a student-athlete here at Penn State means so much to me. It's the big school feel I've always wanted with a family feeling you can't beat," Brackpool said.
"I have a family within my team but also out of softball, I like how all student-athletes and other students here support one another. I think that's why I feel in love with the school."
Outside of softball, Brackpool is majoring in kinesiology and wants to pursue a career in medicine.
"Whatever Brackpool puts her mind to, she will succeed at," coach Lehotak said. "The dedication she puts into softball shows what type of person she is and how she's willing to put in the work to get what she wants."
Currently, Penn State is 8-9 as they prepare to head to California for a tournament this weekend.
Brackpool and the team are excited to see what this weekend brings for the Lions as they get closer to the first home game later this month against Pitt on the 18th.