It seems like just yesterday that Lilia Crouthamel was recording base hits and scoring runs for the Salisbury High School Falcons. Now, this fall, the 2018 graduate enters her senior year as a student-athlete on the Penn State University softball team.

With already three years gone by, Crouthamel is reflecting on what she has accomplished as a Nittany Lion, while also looking forward to her final year in State College.

“Time has definitely gone very fast and I can’t believe it is already my senior year,” said Crouthamel. “I definitely enjoy Penn State and everything it has to offer. There are great academics along with great athletics, resources all around the university and the great alumni association.”

As soon as she arrived on campus her freshman year, Crouthamel pushed for playing time. She appeared in 49 games, making seven starts as a freshman, and was ready for the game at the college level.

“I think my tournament team, PA Chaos, prepared me well to play in college,” Crouthamel said. “I also think that you have to come into college ready to work and also ready to fail. I love working hard and I definitely just think my personality of wanting to get better and eager to make an immediate impact helped me see the field my freshman year. I also think my ability to go all out to make a play stood out. I was primarily a pinch runner, but I feel that I was trusted in that role because of my high softball IQ.”

After only being able to play 26 games during the 2020 season due to the pandemic, the Nittany Lions played a full, 41-game season in 2021.

Crouthamel started in all but two of the Lions’ games this past season.

“It definitely felt great to finally step on the field again,” said Crouthamel. “We all really missed the game and missed seeing each other every day, doing what we love.”

Crouthamel has always made sure to keep up with her studies as well, earning Academic All-BIG Ten honors as a marketing major.

“It’s certainly not easy,” Crouthamel said. “You must learn time management and learn how to make a schedule so you have enough time to get everything done.”

Now that she will be a senior and leader of the team next season, Crouthamel looks to take on more responsibility on the field with her play and voice.

“A goal for me is just to help make the people around me better and as a senior, I know I will have more of a responsibility and a bigger role in order to help the team the best I can,” said Crouthamel. “Obviously, our record wasn’t the best last year but I think it’s my job as a senior to keep the team grounded and motivated to change Penn State softball for the better.”

A two-year captain and two-time All-Colonial League performer at Salisbury, Crouthamel feels that her success as a Falcons student-athlete helped her prepare to be successful in college.

“I think Salisbury helped prepare me academically and I think the small school atmosphere taught me about family and that’s really important at the college level,” Crouthamel said.