Ava Lawson

Classroom

Lawson was named to the Horizon League All-Academic Team in 2019. In addition to her league accolades, she was named to the Northern Kentucky Dean’s List in five of her seven semesters. Lawson was also named an NFCA All-America Scholar following the 2019 campaign.

Character

From Head Coach Kathryn Gleason: “She epitomizes what it truly means to be a student-athlete. She excels in the classroom, in the community, and on the field. Lawson takes a special interest in supporting the student-athletes on campus and supporting their efforts both on and off the field. Lawson is a leader. She is articulate, intelligent, energetic, sincere, driven, and competitive. She has elevated the NKU softball program and the standards and core values by which we live each and every day. She is a tremendous example for those who dream to play a sport and receive an education at the collegiate level. We are very proud as how she represents our program and the entire NKU athletic department community.”

Community

Lawson has logged over 40 hours of volunteer work in the last year and a half alone. In addition to Northern Kentucky softball’s extensive community outreach with the Reds RBI Youth Academy, Longevity 5K, Buddy Walk, Breast Cancer Walk and local coat drive among others, Lawson also assisted in the Dayton Tornado Relief efforts led by FC Cincinnati.

Lawson is also extremely active within the athletic community. She serves as NKU’s SAAC President and has been the Horizon League’s National SAAC Representative for the past two years. Additionally, Lawson serves as an intern within NKU’s athletic marketing and promotions department.

Competition

Lawson is a two-time All-Horizon League First Team honoree. Going into her senior season, she is on track to finish in NKU’s all-time career top-10 in games played, hits, RBI, doubles and total bases, and could also realistically finish in the top-10 in home runs, triples, and runs scored. Lawson has already made her mark in the record book with 14 doubles in the 2019 campaign, good for sixth all-time at NKU.

Lawson holds a career batting average of .315 and a slugging percentage of .486 and has started in 149 contests for the Norse. She has clubbed 133 hits, driven in 77 runs while scoring 61 of her own, and has 47 extra-base hits to her name (32 doubles, five triples and 10 home runs). Additionally, she anchors NKU’s outfield defense in center field and boasts a .973 fielding percentage with 277 career putouts. Lawson was named the Horizon League Player of the Week on April 9, 2018, after tying NKU’s Division I-era single-game record of six RBI against Wright State, courtesy of back-to-back home runs and a double.