June 23, 2003
(Release courtesy of Larry Happel, SID, Central College)

PELLA, IOWA . . . Central College softball pitcher Libby Hysell has received the Honda Award as the NCAA Div. III woman athlete of the year. Hysell is the first athlete in Central history to receive the award and only the third Iowan ever selected. The award was announced Monday at a press conference at Columbia University in New York City.

Hysell, a senior from Colfax who led Central to the NCAA Div. III softball championship in May, was in New York City Monday to receive the award, accompanied by her family and Dutch coach George Wares. Central will receive $5,000 from American Honda Motor Co. in recognition of Hysell’s honor.

Hysell was chosen from a field of national athletes of the year in 12 sports. Hysell’s nomination was the sixth for a Central athlete in the 16-year history of the program in Div. III. Previous Central nominees include women’s basketball forward Emilie Hanson 1994-95, volleyball middle hitter Abbie Brown in 1998-99 and 1999-2000, softball third baseman Donell Hotze in 1999-2000 and volleyball middle hitter Candace Wilson in 2000-01. None were selected, however.

The award caps an incredible year for Hysell, who underwent shoulder surgery last fall. She had previously come back from major back surgery while at Colfax-Mingo High School, where she was an all-state pitcher.

The three-time NFCA all-American posted a 17-0 record this spring and was leading the nation in earned run average with a sparkling 0.41 mark (final Div. III statistical rankings have not yet been released). She posted 10 shutouts and combined on five others. Hysell struck out 148 batters in 152.2 innings, allowing 73 hits and just nine earned runs while issuing 43 walks, 16 of which were intentional. Against NCAA Div. III opponents, she had a 0.28 ERA.

Hysell led Central to a 41-5-1 record and the Div. III softball title, decided in Salem, Va. May 16-20. It’s the school’s fourth national softball crown.

“This is a great thrill for us at Central College,” said athletic director Al Dorenkamp. “Libby exemplifies all we stand for at Central College and in Div. III athletics. She’s worked very, very hard and has clearly earned this honor.”

Hysell was a third-team all-American in 2001 and second-team pick in 2002 before being named a first-team choice this year. She’s also a three-time first-team all-Iowa Conference selection and was the league’s MVP this year as she helped the Dutch win the their third conference title in her four-year career. Hysell, who was twice picked as the league player of the week in 2003, was named to Div. III regional and national all-tournament teams this year.

Record-setting career--Hysell holds numerous school records. She compiled a 70-16 career record and ranks first in career ERA (0.70), first in career shutouts (33) and is tied for first in career no-hitters (four). Hysell ranks second in career victories (70), second in career strikeouts (582), third in career winning percentage (.813), fourth in career games pitched (97) and fourth in career innings pitched (605.1). She tied the single-game strikeouts mark with 16 against Coe College April 10.

During Hysell’s Central career, the Dutch posted a 148-30-1 record, while winning or sharing three league championships and earning four NCAA Div. III playoff berths. Central reached the NCAA finals twice in that span, finishing second in 2001 before winning the title this year.

In 2003 Hysell teamed with fellow all-American April Miller (senior, Pleasantville), sophomore Corrie Schmidt (Ankeny) and freshman Amanda Wilson (Delavan, Ill.) to compile a 0.71 team ERA, which was leading the nation in the most recent rankings.

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