Brooke Andresen

Classroom

Andresen is part of a select group of students on the Loyola campus as a member of the 2012-13 Maroon & Gold Society, which encompasses only 25 students campus-wide. The senior has few peers with a 3.73 grade-point average as an English/Secondary Education major. Following both the 2011 and 2012 seasons, she was named a National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-America Scholar-Athlete. Andresen is also a two-time Horizon League Softball All-Academic Team selection and has been a member of the Horizon League Academic Honor Roll in each of her three years of eligibility for the award. Last April, she was named the Horizon League’s Female Scholar-Athlete of the Month.

Character

“Brooke has established herself as one of the best hitters ever to play at Loyola and is a role model for her work both on the field and in the classroom. She has faced some adversity in her career and has responded in a positive fashion to serve as a leader by example for her teammates.” - Loyola Head Softball Coach Missy Beseres.

Community

As an active member of the campus and local community, Andresen serves on Loyola’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and has volunteered her time supporting worthy causes, including Special Olympics, Children Affected by AIDS Foundation, and Misericordia Heart of Mercy, which is a service provider for children and adults with mental disabilities.

Competition

One of the top hitters ever to wear the Maroon and Gold at Loyola, Andresen is the first Rambler to earn First Team All-Horizon League honors in each of her first three seasons and is only the second Rambler to earn first team all-conference recognition three or more times. In early March 2013, she became Loyola’s all-time leader in hits (182 and counting)  and through games of March 10, with 96 runs scored, she was closing in on the school’s career mark (115), and she already ranks third in school history with a .345 career batting average. A versatile player, Andresen has willingly switched positions to help the team on numerous occasions, seeing time at second base, shortstop, and the outfield during her career. Through 16 games this spring, she had already notched five multi-hit games, including a three-hit effort in the season opener versus Rhode Island. Loyola is 5-0 this spring when she tallies two or more hits. As a junior in 2012, Andresen led the team with a .325 batting average and helped Loyola to 26 wins and the title game of the Horizon League Championship. She was selected to the Horizon League All-Tournament Team last May and closed out her season on a six-game hitting streak. Last year, Andresen recorded career highs with five home runs, 11 doubles and 25 RBI and at one point, reached base safely in 21 consecutive contests (March 31 - April 28). As a freshman in 2010, Andresen batted .384, a mark which ranks third on Loyola’s single-season chart.