2024 • FRESHMAN SEASON
Season: Emerged as the team’s starting first baseman around halfway through non-conference competition, appearing in 44 contests while starting in 38… Hit .232 in her debut season with the Nittany Lions, accumulating 19 hits highlighted by a trio of doubles… Contributed 11 runs scored, eight runs batted in and nine walks on the year in addition to a pair of stolen bases… Was lights-out in the field, booking a .996 fielding percentage at first base, making just one error in 243 total chances.
vs. Morgan State (2/24): Made her collegiate debut as a pinch hitter in the lid-lifter and contributed at first base off the bench in the nightcap… Booked her first collegiate hit and run scored in the second game of the night… vs. Hofstra (3/2): Mustered her first collegiate multi-hit outing, going 2-for-3 with a pair of singles in the win. Binghamton (3/17): Was 1-for-2 with a run scored and a two-RBI double. Bucknell (3/26): Was 2-for-3 with a double and a pair of runs scored. Maryland (3/31): Recorded a season-high 13 putouts in the field. at Wisconsin (4/19): Went 1-for-2 with her first double against a B1G opponent. NCAA Regional vs. Texas State (5/18): Was a perfect 2-for-2 at the dish in PSU’s elimination game against the Bobcats.
HIGH SCHOOL
Played high school softball at Tri-Valley Junior/Senior High School in Hegins, Pennsylvania, earning four varsity letters... Won a pair of PIAA Class 1A State Championships in 2021 and 2023 in addition to a trio of District XI Championships during her high school career... Earned both of her state championship titles on Beard Field at Nittany Lion Softball Park... Earned the role of Team Captain ahead of her senior season... Picked up a trio of Republican-Herald First Team All-Area Shortstop accolades during her career... Was a three-time PIAA All-State Shortstop... Landed a pair of Schuylkill Softball Coaches All-Area First Team honors... Was named the 2023 Female Scholar Athlete of the Year... Picked up PIAA Rookie of the Year accolades in her 2021 season... Won a Schuylkill League Championship in the 2022 campaign... Earned varsity letters in girls’ basketball in three seasons at Tri-Valley... Handled her travel ball commitments under the direction of coach Roy Godard in the TNT 18U National organization from 2019 to 2023... Was the captain of the TNT 18U National Team in every year of her tenure with the program... Helped lead her team to a top-16 finish in the Platinum Bracket of the 2022 PGF Nationals.
PERSONAL
A native of the Keystone State, Gianna Poletti was born in the winter of 2005 and is the daughter of Nicole and Michael Poletti... The family hails from Hegins, Pennsylvania... She has one sister, named Ava, who is one year her junior... Earned a placement on the Distinguished Honor Roll in every year of her high school career at Tri-Valley... Was a member of her school’s student council in high school and was an active participant in the National Honor Society, being elected as the chapter’s President for the 2022-23 school year... Landed her high school’s Scholastic Superstar honor and Schuylkill Academic Achievement award at the conclusion of her senior year... Participated in Tri-Valley’s Athletes for Christ organization and is currently a member of St. Andrew’s United Methodist Church... Poletti is currently studying biobehavioral health in the Penn State College of Health and Human Development, and expects to earn her undergraduate degree in the fall of 2027... Upon the completion of her coursework, she hopes to begin a career as a physician’s assistant... In her free time, she enjoys playing basketball and spending time outdoors, as well as working on a variety of arts and crafts.