LINK - ASHLAND UNIVERSITY HALL OF FAME PAGE
Looking at the entirety of Kylie Asmus' three years at Ashland University, it makes perfect sense that she was chosen as the 2018-19 AU Female Student-Athlete of the Year.
On the softball diamond, Asmus, a three-year starter at first base, was a .330 hitter, and compiled 69 runs scored, 174 hits, 33 doubles, four triples, five home runs, 74 RBIs and 11 stolen bases.
Asmus was named the AU Class of 2019 valedictorian, and graduated in May with a 4.0 cumulative grade-point average as an Exercise Science major. She was the Ashland athletic department's 2019 NCAA Woman of the Year nominee, making it to the conference honoree level.
She is the fourth player in program history to be Student-Athlete of the Year, following Alicia Longstreth (2002), Desi Gillman (1996) and Heather Lefford (1995).
"I thought it was a real accomplishment," Asmus said. "I was surprised, but excited to represent the school and the program. It took a lot of time management. There were long days with games and practice and I didn't want to do homework, but I had to set that time aside."
Said Ashland head softball coach Emlyn Knerem, "Kylie is one of those kids that you wish you could have forever. She does anything you ask of her. She's great in the classroom, you never have to worry about her. It's sad to not have her back in the program this year, but she deserves every honor that she's gotten."
As for being named valedictorian, Asmus said, "It was awesome to be able to represent my class at a graduation, and speak in front of them. It was a humbling experience."
Asmus transferred to Ashland following her freshman year from NCAA Division III Ohio Northern.
"It was a little difficult at first, because some classes didn't transfer over," she said. "I was able to make it through and make friends in my group and make good relationships with my professors."
Said Knerem, "She stepped in and had no issues with the transition. She got the job done. She got those seeing-eye hits, she found a way to get on base, she found a way to get rallies started, she found a way to get runners in.
"We would not have been the same team without her."
In her three seasons as an Eagle, Asmus played in three Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Tournaments, and as a senior, helped the team improve by 10 wins from the year before.
"It was awesome to be able to be a part of an awesome program, and play with such a good group of girls and have mentors who were here before," Asmus said. "It was a great experience academically and on the field."
Asmus will be honored at the 2019 Ashland University Hall of Fame Induction and Student-Athlete of the Year Recognition on Saturday (Oct. 12) at 9:30 a.m. in the Faculty Room at the John C. Myers Convocation Center.
"It will definitely bring back a lot of memories, even from when I was little," she said. "Sad that I'm not able to play anymore, but happy that I was able to have that kind of experience."
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