StMU's Haley Richter named Heartland Conference Woman of the Year

7/2/2015 2:14:00 PM

By Chad Peters | St. Mary's Athletics Communications

WACO, Texas — Student-athletes everywhere have the opportunity to leave a lasting legacy, an imprint so meaningful that it extends far beyond the playing field and into the fabric of the communities they call home.

It's an opportunity so many cherish — Haley Richter, especially.

The former St. Mary's University softball player, a standout in all respects on and off the diamond, has been named the Heartland Conference Woman of the Year, it was announced Thursday.

The award honors seniors who have completed their athletic eligibility who perform exceptionally well in their sport as well as are exceptional in academics and service and leadership.

Richter helped lead St. Mary's Softball to the College World Series this spring, all while the Hondo, Texas native excelled in the classroom and performed her share of civic duty in the community thanks to charitable efforts that included volunteering as a summer basketball coach at her high school and teaching softball to underprivileged youth.

"My time in college as a student, athlete and volunteer is the reason why I am the person I have become," Richter wrote in a personal statement that accompanied her nomination for the award. "Each day I have been able to use the gifts I was given to help my classmates, teammates and people I hardly even know. I have been able to help my community and give back to those who gave me so much throughout my childhood.

"I want to continue to give back, and I want to be a positive influence in the lives of the students and athletes who come into my school."

Richter, who is in the midst of completing her master's degree at St. Mary's, finished her undergraduate degree in just 3 ½ years. She graduated summa cum laude in December with a 3.94 grade-point average to receive her bachelor's degree in mathematics with a teacher's certificate, and has maintained a 4.00 GPA studying educational leadership in the master's program.

It's easy to see why Richter — a CoSIDA Academic All-America Third Team selection — was named the Heartland Conference Woman of the Year.

"When thinking about 'Woman of the Year,'" St. Mary's head softball coach Donna Fields said, "Haley graduating with two degrees in 3 ½ years, with the GPA and how she did not miss a beat in softball while doing her student teaching was just remarkable."

Richter is St. Mary's first winner of the award since former softball player Kelly Baker won it in 2011.

"She worked hard at everything she did," Fields said of Richter, "had a true path throughout her college career and was exceptional as a person, student and athlete."

Richter credits that to her time as a student-athlete at St. Mary's.

"As a collegiate athlete, I learned lifelong lessons in leadership, respect, teamwork and patience," Richter said. "These lessons will be applied everyday in my work life where I will teach my students and athletes these same lessons to help make them better adults."

For as passionate as she was on the softball diamond, teaching — and most importantly, impacting lives — remains Richter's true passion.

"The morals, values and beliefs instilled in children will affect how they live their entire lives, and this is the reason I have chosen to become a teacher and coach," she said. "Through my community service and time spent helping others, I have gained a true understanding of how fortunate I am and I want to help children so they will have a better education and future."

Richter, a First-Team All-Heartland Conference selection, had a banner year with a career-best .347 batting average to go along with 48 RBIs and five home runs. She helped St. Mary's secure its fourth regional championship in the program's storied history and return to the national tournament for the first time since 2005.

She ended her career as Rattler Softball's all-time putouts leader and with the program's best career fielding percentage. She also tied the NCAA record in 2013 for grand slams in a season with four.

Richter was among the 480 top female student-athletes from across the nation nominated for the 25th NCAA Woman of the Year award. As the Heartland Conference Woman of the Year, Richter advances to national consideration as the league's candidate for the NCAA honor.

Of the 480 nominees across Divisions I-III, a selection committee will determine the top 10 nominees from each division for the top 30 finalists. On Oct. 18, those finalists and the Woman of the Year winner will be announced at the annual award ceremony in Indianapolis.

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