Contact: Clark Teuscher, Sports Information Director, 630-637-5302
(written by Claire Norfleet, Student Sports Information Assistant)

Apr. 4, 2016 - For individuals that have a strong desire to compete, the likelihood of participating in a wide variety of sports becomes much greater. After picking up a glove for the first time at the age of eight to join a travel team, softball was still second to basketball, which was once the go-to sport for North Central College junior Brooke Kehoe.

The decision to play softball at the collegiate level was made her freshman year of high school at Loyola Academy in Wilmette after making the varsity team.

"Most of the seniors that had graduated after my first year went on to play college ball, but they were the ones that helped me realize softball was the sport for me and that I could play at the next level,"  Kehoe said.

Among the graduated seniors was the team's starting catcher, which was a position that Kehoe had never played. With the help of teammates and head coach Marty Jennings, she was given the opportunity to excel in a new area. The hard work paid off, as Kehoe was named starting catcher the following season.

"If it was not for my high school coach, I would not be where I am today," Kehoe said. "He was the one who pushed me day in and day out in the weight room, at practice, in the classroom and in my leadership ability. From day one, he had pushed me to be the best I could be and was always there for an extra boost of motivation to work harder."

Although a sprained wrist has limited her hitting power this season, no injury will prevent her from playing the game she loves. Kehoe has started all 16 games this season, hitting three doubles and a triple while drawing seven walks and throwing out five attempted base-stealers.

Before each season, the Cardinals come together and create goals they hope to accomplish as a team. Recording 20 wins is a recurring goal that the program aims to achieve and has continued to uphold for the past 23 years.

"Another goal of ours is to come out as the top team in the conference and host the conference tournament," she said. "This is tough since the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) is a very competitive conference, but we are always up for a good battle."

Off the field, Kehoe is a member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC). The organization focuses on brainstorming ideas to help get athletic teams at North Central involved both on campus and throughout the community.

Outside of academics, athletics and working with SAAC, Kehoe has a strong interest in art, which is something that only family and close friends may know.

"This is one of my favorite ways to spend my time alone," she said. "Not only is it a good break from the real world, but it also helps me express myself and provides a sense of relaxation."

With one year remaining until graduation, the Chicago native has the dream of attending paramedic school and one day continuing her family's tradition by getting in to the Chicago Fire Department.

"My grandfather was hired in 1955 and worked the job for 46 years, and my father was hired in 1986 and is still on the job," she said. "I have other family members who are in the same department, but I would be the first female in the family."

The Cardinals (8-8) will travel to face Aurora University in a 3:00 p.m. double header on Thursday. Conference play is set to begin on Saturday at Shanower Family Field against Millikin University, with the first pitch scheduled for 1:00 p.m.