May 3, 2018
By Andy Kuros, GoPSUsports.com student staff writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - As a native of Pembroke Pines, Florida, there was no doubt some uncertainty in going to a school over 1,000 miles away from home. However, after four years in Happy Valley, shortstop Gianna Arrizurieta knew she made the right decision in coming to Penn State - and all thanks to her teammates.
"It's bittersweet," Arrizurieta said about graduating and leaving her fellow Nittany Lions. "I'm excited to move on into the real world and focus on my career and my future, but at the same time softball has been a huge part of my experience at Penn State and I'm going to miss being a part of this team. Being with my teammates all the time has been my favorite part of Penn State. (Leaving my teammates) is going to be the saddest part."
"It's been awesome to get really close with everybody on the team and get to build those bonds that will last forever," she added.
On the field, the biochemistry and molecular biology major started 43 of the team's 47 games at shortstop this season and set career-highs in almost every offensive category, including hits, doubles, and runs batted in. She was also terrific defensively at shortstop, recording 60 putouts on the season.
Head coach Amanda Lehotak talked about how her senior infielder was crucial to the program's culture and identity.
"Obviously win-loss wise, it's been a rough year for a multitude of reasons, but the one thing that hasn't changed has been our culture and our love for each other, and that's been because of (Gianna) and Jess (Cummings) and what they've brought to our program."
Lehotak continued her high praise for Arrizurieta as both a person and a leader.
"Gianna, if you're lucky enough to get to know her as a person, you'll know that she's amazing," Lehotak said. "If you get to be in her life, you're the blessed one, not her. She's just that special. Not everybody talks about it, but her leadership, her grind, and her work ethic are amazing."
"She's just such a good person in that everything she does is with high character, high quality, high morals, and high ethics," Lehotak added. "I'm going to be really sad to see her go."
Arrizurieta talked about how Penn State's softball program over the years has helped shape her into the person she is today.
"(This program) has molded me into who I am," Arrizurieta said. "Obviously this season hasn't gone the way we wanted it or expected it to, but I think that builds a lot of character. It shows what kind of people we are."
This mindset helped her become the 2017 Big Ten Sportsmanship Award, an honor that she has shown she's absolutely worthy of.
No matter where Arrizurieta chooses to go after her graduation from Penn State, one thing is certain - she left her mark on the program in the most positive of ways.