« Softball 2019

Tara Trainer

School
Indiana University
Position
Pitcher
Major
Architecture and Design/Interior Design

Classroom

A two-time Academic All-Big Ten selection, Tara Trainer is majoring in architecture and design/interior design with a minor in the prestigious Kelley School of Business. This past summer, she traveled to Copenhagen to study interior design.

Character

Trainer is part of a core leadership small group that acts as a liaison between the coaching staff and the rest of the team to communicate any concerns, feedback, etc. The coaching staff turns to this group to be leaders within the team and act by example.

From Head Coach Shonda Stanton: “Tara Trainer is an absolute leader on this team, both in the way she approaches the circle and the way she represents the program on and off the field. She works tirelessly to improve on her already impressive skills, even developing new pitches in the offseason so she could have a dominant senior year. The rest of the team benefits from the competitiveness she brings every day and her willingness to set up the team for success. In addition, she spearheads many of our efforts to give back to the community to leave a lasting impression of Indiana softball on those we cross paths with.”

Community

Trainer is actively involved in numerous organizations at Indiana, including serving as a mentor in the Hoosiers Heroes Mentor Program. With the program, she is paired with an incoming freshman to give advice and help them adjust to life as an Indiana student-athlete. In addition, she has been involved with the Emerging Leaders Program, as well as the Servant Leaders Program. She is also a member of the Little Sis program, where she is a pen pal for younger girls and helps mentor them. Trainer has volunteered with Hoosier Hills Food Bank, Hoosiers Outrun Cancer, Change the Play with Andrew Luck and the Smithville Diamonds Little League. She serves as a clinician at various youth camps and clinics as well as being part of the Everybody Plays initiative where the IU baseball and softball teams teach skills to those with physical and intellectual disabilities.

Competition

Trainer is a two-time NFCA All-Region selection, including first-team accolades in 2018. Her junior season also saw her earn first-team All-Big Ten accolades and a pair of Big Ten Pitcher of the Week honors. Trainer has tossed two no-hitters at Indiana, most recently against Penn State in 2018. Trainer currently ranks fourth all-time in IU program history with 572 strikeouts, is tied for fourth with 42 career wins, is fourth with 95 career starts and ranks seventh with 121 appearances. Her junior campaign saw her set new career marks with 216 strikeouts and a 2.64 ERA.

*All stats as of nomination time.