ROCKY MOUNT, N.C. - NC Wesleyan College Softball senior athlete Beth Braswell was named as the 2020-21 Female Athlete of the Year, the NCWC athletics department announced on Tuesday. 

*This award honors an athlete's athletic achievements only and is separate from the Student-Athlete of the Year award which was announced last week. 

Braswell was the team leader and dominant pitcher on the softball team this past season while also keeping a 3.4 GPA majoring in Accouting and Computer Systems and being gnamed to the USA South All-Academic Team during her junior and senior seasons. 

Braswell's 18 wins in the circle and 1.43 earned run average helped lead the Lady Bishops to 20 wins this past year while helping them reach the Championship Game of the USA South Conference tournament where they fell 8-6 to West Division Champion Piedmont. Braswell had thrown two complete game shutouts duirng her Conference tournament postseason run as well. She shut out East Division Champ Pfeiffer in the semis to advance while also shutting out Piedmont in game one of the championship series.

She led her team in wins (18), strikeouts (157), innings (151), appearances (26), complete games (19) and ERA (1.43) during the 2021 season. She also led the team offensively in home runs with four and RBIs with 31 while also leading the team in on-base percentage at .389 and walking 20 times. She also slugged at a clip of .535 as part of her team-leading 16 extra-base hits. 

Braswell was named team MVP in 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021 while also being named First Team All-Conference in 2019 and 2021. She was also named to the All-Atlantic Region Team in 2021 and was named a Pitcher of the Week in 2019 and 2021.

Braswell tied the school record for wins in a season with 18 while finishing one strikeout shy of the school record of 158 strikeouts. 

"Beth is the most dominant player I have ever coached," commented head softball coach John Brackett on the athletic success of Braswell, who recently graduated with her Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting and Computer Systems in May of 2021 and help lead the team to 67 total wins over her career.

"North Carolina Wesleyan College has opened many doors for me and taught me many lifelong lessons," commented Braswell on her time at Wesleyan. "Over the past four years, I have had many different opportunities to grow and learn through various on-campus positions. My experience of being a First-Year Mentor and a Bishop Business Day Leader have allowed me the opportunity to lead around campus. Through these opportunities, I was able to grow as a leader off the field which in turn helped me become a leader on the field."

Braswell has also been nominated for the NCAA Woman of the Year award along with fellow Student-Athlete of the Year Ali Cucinotta.

Schedule of Award Announcements:

 July 8: Male Athlete of the Year