Photo by: Taris Smith | Louisville Athletics
Softball's Celene Funke to Return Next Season
May 13, 2020 | Softball
University of Louisville softball senior Celene Funke has announced that she will return for a fifth year with the Cardinals in the 2021 season. The centerfielder has elected to utilize an additional season of eligibility granted by the NCAA after the 2020 campaign which was shortened by the COVID-19 pandemic.
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"I am excited to announce that I will be returning for a fifth year! I would like to thank Coach Holly Aprile, Vince Tyra, the ACC, the NCAA and all other support staff that have made this fifth year possible," she said in a letter to fans released earlier today. "I am extremely blessed to have the opportunity to play in front of CardNation for one more year."
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The three-year starter from Carmel, Ind., was a preseason all-ACC selection and a Senior CLASS Award candidate in 2020. She was leading the team in stolen bases (13-for-13) and triples (3) when her senior season came to an abrupt halt after 23 games.
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In 2019, Funke turned in a stellar junior campaign in which she led the nation in triples and set a school record with 13 while registering a team-best 48 runs and standing second with a .324 batting average and 29 stolen bases. She currently stands third on Louisville's career list for triples (18) and third on the all-time stolen base list with 62.
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Funke is the program's first two-time CoSIDA Academic All-American (2018, 2019) and is pursuing her MBA after earning her undergraduate degree in finance in May 2019.
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"We are thrilled about Funke's decision to return for her super senior year," said UofL head coach Holly Aprile. "We are really looking forward to her continued development and we are equally excited for the unbridled enthusiasm and passion that she brings to our lives every day both on and off the field. I know how grateful she is for this opportunity and I have no doubt that she is going to make the most of it."
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"I am excited to announce that I will be returning for a fifth year! I would like to thank Coach Holly Aprile, Vince Tyra, the ACC, the NCAA and all other support staff that have made this fifth year possible," she said in a letter to fans released earlier today. "I am extremely blessed to have the opportunity to play in front of CardNation for one more year."
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The three-year starter from Carmel, Ind., was a preseason all-ACC selection and a Senior CLASS Award candidate in 2020. She was leading the team in stolen bases (13-for-13) and triples (3) when her senior season came to an abrupt halt after 23 games.
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In 2019, Funke turned in a stellar junior campaign in which she led the nation in triples and set a school record with 13 while registering a team-best 48 runs and standing second with a .324 batting average and 29 stolen bases. She currently stands third on Louisville's career list for triples (18) and third on the all-time stolen base list with 62.
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Funke is the program's first two-time CoSIDA Academic All-American (2018, 2019) and is pursuing her MBA after earning her undergraduate degree in finance in May 2019.
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"We are thrilled about Funke's decision to return for her super senior year," said UofL head coach Holly Aprile. "We are really looking forward to her continued development and we are equally excited for the unbridled enthusiasm and passion that she brings to our lives every day both on and off the field. I know how grateful she is for this opportunity and I have no doubt that she is going to make the most of it."
ÂIt looks like we'll be getting ?????????? again next season!! ??#GoCards https://t.co/NUjeApUp9D
— Louisville Softball (@UofLSoftball) May 13, 2020
Players Mentioned
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