This is a story in a series on local high school athletes signing to continue their athletic and academic careers at the next level.
Daviess County’s Abby Newman is headed south next fall as she’ll suit up for the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers when her Lady Panther career is done.
Newman hit .354 during her sophomore season at DC with 43 runs, 50 hits, 21 RBIs and 21 walks.
How does it feel to finally know where you’re going to attend next year and to make it official?
When I made it official to attend WKU and signed to play softball, I felt a relief knowing everything I worked for, on the field and in the classroom, had finally paid off. I’ve worked hard to become a top-notch student and athlete, so signing to play Division 1 softball was exciting and rewarding, at the same time.
Why did you choose the school you did?
The atmosphere at WKU is very welcoming and it really did feel like home, plus it’s close to my home and my family. I wanted to go there before being offered an athletic scholarship, but softball finalized my decision. For me, WKU is big enough to have many opportunities but small enough to be a community with the family feel.
What stood out about the program and the coaches?
When attending camps throughout the years, the coaches at WKU (Coach Tudor, Coach Kayla, and Coach Dani) were always encouraging and positive. Their interest was genuine and they were also very involved with their players, team, and recruits. I saw them at many of my travel tournaments investing their time to recruit the right players for their program. They focus on not only succeeding in sports, but also as a student in the classroom and this is important to me. The WKU softball team excels in their conference (C-USA) every year and I will enjoy playing at the level, as my travel team (Louisville Sluggers) competes and plays at the same high level. During my unofficial visit, the coaches talked about the “family atmosphere” and this is what I was looking for in a school and program.
What are you going to study?
I have been accepted as a Pre-Dental student at Western Kentucky University. After graduating, I plan to apply to Dental School, eventually specializing in Orthodontics.
What are you going to miss about your team and school?
Coach John Biggs, and the other DC coaches (Coach Courtney, Coach Louie, Coach J., Coach Mac, and Coach Leach), make the game of softball so enjoyable. The atmosphere of DCSB is unbeatable. We do a lot of team dinners/get-togethers, team building, and mini-competitions that bring us closer together as a team and show that this program is about more than just winning games. Coach Biggs emphasizes being a good person on and off the field and Daviess County is known for having a very reputable program. The program is about developing players, not about individual awards and recognitions, but many of those speak for themselves.
