Princeton University Athletics
Five To Join Princeton Softball From Class of 2020
July 23, 2016 | Softball
Five members of the incoming Princeton Class of 2020 will join a Tiger softball program coming off an Ivy League title and an NCAA tournament appearance, complementing a team that returns better than 70 percent of its 374 hits from the 2016 campaign.
Here's a look at the incoming class:
Alexandra (Alex) Colón, C/Util, Bats: R/Throws: R, Kingwood, Texas, Kingwood HS
Three-year letterwinner at Kingwood, earning all-district honors all three seasons including first-team recognition in 2015 and 2016 ... earned district defensive MVP honors in 2015 and offensive MVP honors in 2016 ... Kingwood's team MVP in 2015 ... as a senior, was a Houston Chronicle All-Greater Houston second-team-honoree before earning all-state and academic all-state honors from the Texas Girls Coaches Association.
Why Princeton: "I chose Princeton because I wanted to become a part of the history and culture that makes up this great school. I love the campus, the people, the atmosphere. The educational programs offered and the fact that a big part of the student population is involved in varsity athletics helped me decide. I love that I'll be able to find other students that think and act like me: young adults that are focused not only on their studies, but their athletic careers as well. I feel that Princeton is the perfect place for me to make home, and I can't wait to start this next chapter."
Megan Donahey, OF, Bats: L/Throws: R, Phoenix, Ariz., Xavier College Prep
Earned Premier Girls Fastpitch Mountain Region All-America honors in 2016 while also gaining Arizona Republic first-team all-state honors as a senior and honorable mention all-academic recognition in each of her last two years ... earned Arizona Interscholastic Association all-division first-team recognition in 2016 and all-section honors in all four years including three first-team honors ... was Xavier College Prep's offensive MVP three times and defensive MVP twice ... played in the Arizona Softball Coaches All-Star Game in 2016.
Why Princeton: "Princeton has been a dream of mine for a long time. It is the perfect combination of great academics and competitive softball. When I stepped on campus for the first time, I knew that it was the school for me. The players, coaches, and general atmosphere are indescribable, and I cannot wait to be a Tiger."
Allison Harvey, IF, Bats: R/Throws: R, Foothill Ranch, Calif., Mission Viejo HS
Four-time Orange County Register All-South Coast League honoree, earning first-team honors as a senior ... second-team all-county in each of her last two years ... Mission Viejo earned two California Interscholastic Federation titles and one CIF runner-up finish during her career ... earned team's Defensive Player of the Year award as a senior and was the school's Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year in 2016.
Why Princeton: "I knew when I stepped on campus that Princeton was the place I wanted to be. I wanted a place that held a high standard in both academic and athletic achievement and Princeton was the best fit for me. The history of the school, the focus on undergraduate education, and the tradition of the sports programs give an incredible atmosphere that I am extremely excited to be a part of. Having met the team and coaching staff, it is very obvious that everyone is working together and dedicated to the success of the program. I can't wait to be part of such great culture and family!Â
Joey Smith, Util., Bats: R/Throws: R, St. Louis, Mo., Webster Groves HS
Three-time Missouri Fastpitch Coaches Association all-region, three-time all-district and four-time all-conference honoree ... helped Webster Groves to two conference titles and two district titles ... graduated with the third-most assists in a season and sixth-most in a career in state history ... twice earned academic all-state honors and was a 2014 NFCA Academic All-America honoree ... invited to play in the Missouri-Illinois All-Star Game ... also played varsity lacrosse, earning an invite to the Missouri All-Star Game and was an all-conference honoree and two-time captain.
Why Princeton: "After meeting Coach (Nicole) Arias in New York at a camp, a conveniently cancelled flight allowed me to get on campus the following day to meet the rest of the coaching staff and see the campus and facilities. I fell in love with the school and the team from that trip and several trips after. I got a sense of the level of academic and athletic growth that happens at Princeton, and the surrounding community is unmatched. These things convinced me that this is where I want to be."
Caroline Taber, P, Bats: R/Throws: R, Mystic, Conn., Fitch HS
Two-time Gatorade Connecticut Softball Player of the Year ... earned all-conference honors in all four years and all-state honors in each of her last three seasons ... selected as The New London Day's Area Player of the Year three times, the Norwich Bulletin's Area Player of the Year twice and the New Haven Register's All-State Player of the Year in 2016 while earning Register all-state honors three times ... Fitch's Female Student Athlete of the Year in 2016 ... Premier Girls Fastpitch Regional All-America honoree in 2016 ... earned all-conference honors in volleyball in 2015.Â
Why Princeton: "There are few institutions in the world regarded as highly as Princeton University. Here, you can receive a world-class education surrounded by others with a passion for learning, and this is what really attracted me. I wanted to be able to push myself academically and explore new subjects under the instruction of world-renowned professors, and coupling this with Division I athletics made Princeton my dream school. I know that when here, I will be able to grow intellectually as well as athletically. Getting to know Coach (Lisa) Van Ackeren and meeting the girls already on the team only sealed the deal for me; their chemistry was undeniable and I knew I would be joining a great support system who would soon be like family to me. I can't wait to continue my education and softball career at Princeton!"
Here's a look at the incoming class:
Alexandra (Alex) Colón, C/Util, Bats: R/Throws: R, Kingwood, Texas, Kingwood HS
Three-year letterwinner at Kingwood, earning all-district honors all three seasons including first-team recognition in 2015 and 2016 ... earned district defensive MVP honors in 2015 and offensive MVP honors in 2016 ... Kingwood's team MVP in 2015 ... as a senior, was a Houston Chronicle All-Greater Houston second-team-honoree before earning all-state and academic all-state honors from the Texas Girls Coaches Association.
Why Princeton: "I chose Princeton because I wanted to become a part of the history and culture that makes up this great school. I love the campus, the people, the atmosphere. The educational programs offered and the fact that a big part of the student population is involved in varsity athletics helped me decide. I love that I'll be able to find other students that think and act like me: young adults that are focused not only on their studies, but their athletic careers as well. I feel that Princeton is the perfect place for me to make home, and I can't wait to start this next chapter."
Megan Donahey, OF, Bats: L/Throws: R, Phoenix, Ariz., Xavier College Prep
Earned Premier Girls Fastpitch Mountain Region All-America honors in 2016 while also gaining Arizona Republic first-team all-state honors as a senior and honorable mention all-academic recognition in each of her last two years ... earned Arizona Interscholastic Association all-division first-team recognition in 2016 and all-section honors in all four years including three first-team honors ... was Xavier College Prep's offensive MVP three times and defensive MVP twice ... played in the Arizona Softball Coaches All-Star Game in 2016.
Why Princeton: "Princeton has been a dream of mine for a long time. It is the perfect combination of great academics and competitive softball. When I stepped on campus for the first time, I knew that it was the school for me. The players, coaches, and general atmosphere are indescribable, and I cannot wait to be a Tiger."
Allison Harvey, IF, Bats: R/Throws: R, Foothill Ranch, Calif., Mission Viejo HS
Four-time Orange County Register All-South Coast League honoree, earning first-team honors as a senior ... second-team all-county in each of her last two years ... Mission Viejo earned two California Interscholastic Federation titles and one CIF runner-up finish during her career ... earned team's Defensive Player of the Year award as a senior and was the school's Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year in 2016.
Why Princeton: "I knew when I stepped on campus that Princeton was the place I wanted to be. I wanted a place that held a high standard in both academic and athletic achievement and Princeton was the best fit for me. The history of the school, the focus on undergraduate education, and the tradition of the sports programs give an incredible atmosphere that I am extremely excited to be a part of. Having met the team and coaching staff, it is very obvious that everyone is working together and dedicated to the success of the program. I can't wait to be part of such great culture and family!Â
Joey Smith, Util., Bats: R/Throws: R, St. Louis, Mo., Webster Groves HS
Three-time Missouri Fastpitch Coaches Association all-region, three-time all-district and four-time all-conference honoree ... helped Webster Groves to two conference titles and two district titles ... graduated with the third-most assists in a season and sixth-most in a career in state history ... twice earned academic all-state honors and was a 2014 NFCA Academic All-America honoree ... invited to play in the Missouri-Illinois All-Star Game ... also played varsity lacrosse, earning an invite to the Missouri All-Star Game and was an all-conference honoree and two-time captain.
Why Princeton: "After meeting Coach (Nicole) Arias in New York at a camp, a conveniently cancelled flight allowed me to get on campus the following day to meet the rest of the coaching staff and see the campus and facilities. I fell in love with the school and the team from that trip and several trips after. I got a sense of the level of academic and athletic growth that happens at Princeton, and the surrounding community is unmatched. These things convinced me that this is where I want to be."
Caroline Taber, P, Bats: R/Throws: R, Mystic, Conn., Fitch HS
Two-time Gatorade Connecticut Softball Player of the Year ... earned all-conference honors in all four years and all-state honors in each of her last three seasons ... selected as The New London Day's Area Player of the Year three times, the Norwich Bulletin's Area Player of the Year twice and the New Haven Register's All-State Player of the Year in 2016 while earning Register all-state honors three times ... Fitch's Female Student Athlete of the Year in 2016 ... Premier Girls Fastpitch Regional All-America honoree in 2016 ... earned all-conference honors in volleyball in 2015.Â
Why Princeton: "There are few institutions in the world regarded as highly as Princeton University. Here, you can receive a world-class education surrounded by others with a passion for learning, and this is what really attracted me. I wanted to be able to push myself academically and explore new subjects under the instruction of world-renowned professors, and coupling this with Division I athletics made Princeton my dream school. I know that when here, I will be able to grow intellectually as well as athletically. Getting to know Coach (Lisa) Van Ackeren and meeting the girls already on the team only sealed the deal for me; their chemistry was undeniable and I knew I would be joining a great support system who would soon be like family to me. I can't wait to continue my education and softball career at Princeton!"
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