BY SAMANTHA BABO
Staff Writer

Two time All-American athlete Michelle Gravdahl is playing her last season of softball at Salisbury University and will soon be graduating in the spring with a degree in nursing.

Gravdahl is from Ellicot City, Md. and has been playing softball since she was 8 years old. She played in a league called “travel ball,” when she was 9 years old, and her love of softball led her to play at the collegiate level.

Gravdahl was an outfielder for SU her freshman year. After getting acquainted to the team they realized that she would be better as a catcher, and has started for the Seagulls as catcher since her sophomore year.

Gravdahl said she decided to go to SU because she knew they had had a great nursing program, a great softball team and knew that the softball coach, Margie Knight, was terrific.

When Gravdahl graduates in the spring, she plans on using her major to become a pediatric nurse. She is open to many other options in her field, but she said she really loves working with children and newborns.

Being a student athlete, there are many challenges she faces because of having such a busy schedule. However, she finds the time to balance everything out. Between her softball games, tournaments and practices, she somehow finds the time to go to her internship and get all of her schoolwork done.

One of her professors, Chris DiPasqua, said she is a great role model for emerging young athletes who want to play sports at a college level along with rigorous academic pursuits.

“I truly believe that student athletes such as Michelle have developed the skills that require mastery upon the athletic field that transcend into the classroom and beyond, which yield professionals who are committed to going the extra mile to yield excellent practice,” DiPasqua said.

Michelle has a great physical appearance on the field not only because she is 5’9 but because of her talents and determination while she is playing softball. She will be a great loss to the softball team next year because of her many skills and also because of her easygoing attitude and leadership abilities. Coach Knight said that she will leave a great example for the team to follow in the future.

“We try not to look back and always look forward, but she will leave a great legacy here at Salisbury University,” Knight said.

So far this year the team won their first double header against East Mennonite University and expects to win their upcoming games and tournaments.

Gravdalh is looking to have a great season this year even though the team has lost two essential seniors from last year. This year the Sea Gulls have 16 returning players and hope to take advantage of their many experienced team members to win the Capital Athletic Conference championship once again.