Moravian College senior catcher and Northwestern Lehigh graduate Brooke Wehr enjoyed the 2021 season. She earned a spot on the 2021 National Fastpitch Coaches Association Division III All-America Third Team, announced late last month. Wehr was also selected as the 2021 Landmark Conference Player of the Year.

“It was truly an honor to be named an All-American,” said Wehr. “I set this goal for myself from the time I was little and more specifically from the moment I stepped onto the collegiate softball field. Every year I have been determined to set goals for myself and I am very proud to have received this honor. I cannot thank my teammates, coaches, and family enough for their endless support and for always pushing me to reach for more.

“I take pride in my mentality regarding the game and I continue to put a lot of effort into not only the physical aspect of the game but the mental aspect as well. I spend a lot of my time working out, working on my swing, working on my catching abilities and continuing to educate myself about the game. The game eventually evolves, so you have to evolve with it.”

Wehr has been one of the Hounds offensive weapons since the 2018 season when she tied for the Landmark Conference record with 12 HRs in ‘18 when she also scored 48 runs (third most in league history), had 99 total based (fifth in league history) and had 58 hits (sixth-most in league history) in 158 at bats (tied for fifth in league history).

This spring she batted .491 (team-high) and also had team highs in runs (37), hits (55), doubles (13), triples (five), homers (seven), RBIs (44), on base percentage (.535) and slugging percentage (.884). She started all 34 of Moravian’s games in 2021.

Wehr helped the Greyhounds to a 31-3 overall record this season and win their ninth Landmark Conference title, while making their 18th trip to the NCAA Division III Tournament. It was a welcoming sight for Wehr and her teammates after missing most of the 2020 season due to the pandemic.

“I’m always trying to be there for my team whether it’s to pick somebody up from a bad at-bat, play in the field, or just an overall bad day,” Wehr said. “I truly try to lead by example in pretty much everything that I do. Softball is a sport that requires way more than just nine players to be successful, it doesn’t matter if you’re in the lineup, first bat off the bench, or a pinch runner. Everybody has to recognize their role and be all in, which is what I try to instill on my teammates. I want my teammates to feel like they can rely on me and count on me, not only in a game, but off the field as a person as well.”

With the NCAA granting an extra year of eligibility to spring athletes due to missing 2020, Wehr will be taking advantage of that and returning to play one final season with the Greyhounds next year.

“Coming back for one more year worked out perfectly for me actually, so it just made sense to,” said Wehr. “We get a year back since we missed a season due to COVID and I have to take a couple of prerequisite courses so that I can apply for a Doctor of Physical Therapy Program this summer.

“I am so excited to be back and continue what we’ve started. We have a lot of unfinished business to take care of and I hope to continue the legacy that Moravian softball has created.”

Her time as a student-athlete at Northwestern helped her prepare for her time at Moravian.

“At Northwestern, I was fortunate enough to play varsity softball for all four years and I grew up watching my older brother play baseball for Northwestern,” Wehr said. “My brother definitely inspired me and pushed me to be the type of player I am today. I wanted to follow in his footsteps, so I knew I had some big shoes to fill. I grew up pretty much playing softball year-round on competitive tournament teams, so that I could be ready for the collegiate level.

“Everyone always thinks something prepares you for something else and in a sense it does, but you don’t know until you experience it. My brother and family, as well as my tournament coaches, pushed me and prepared for the next level. From there it was in my own hands for what I wanted to do with it, I am so grateful for every opportunity that led me to Moravian College Softball.”