Madisyn Palmer

Classroom

Madisyn Palmer puts her academics first, and it shows. She is a three-time selection to the C-USA Commissioner’s Honor Roll and always records one of the top GPAs on the softball team. As a health sciences major with aspirations of becoming a nurse, Palmer has to keep up with courses that most of us can’t comprehend. This past semester, Palmer recorded a 3.9 GPA and made the FAU Honor Roll (awarded to student-athletes who achieve a 3.0 or above) for the seventh consecutive semester. During softball season, she received a 3.7 GPA while she was lighting up the field. Palmer is on track to earn her bachelor’s degree in the spring.

Character

When people watch Palmer play, they speak of her speed and athleticism, how quickly she can get down the baseline or the home run she stole in a conference tournament game. However, this is not the complete story of who Palmer is. Palmer is a passionate and devoted individual who always looks to make the team better. Like any good athlete, Palmer has her priorities in line to help ensure her success (church, family, school and then softball). The love she has for her teammates, family and friends is truly incomparable. Palmer is an excellent role model for the underclassmen and a respectable colleague on whom the upperclassmen can rely. As a true leader on the squad, she is always looking for ways to improve both on and off the field while never settling for second best. At the end of the day, Palmer is one of those players that teams are grateful to have, not only for her playing ability, but for the person she is behind the scenes.

Community

The FAU athletics program has been conquering a goal of completing 5,000 hours of community service this academic year, and Palmer and the softball team have played a huge role in helping the athletic department reach that goal, as she has volunteered upwards of 50 hours this academic year alone. Palmer has volunteered for Habitat for Humanity and pediatric cancer support. She has also made a handful of visits to John Hopkin’s Children’s Hospital and assisted living facilities. Being that FAU is 1.8 miles from the beach, Palmer and the team have participated in a myriad of beach clean-ups. She also volunteers at several local softball camps and clinics around South Florida, as she is a girl whom many young softball players look up to.

Competition

Palmer is one of the biggest threats on the FAU softball team, and it has been that way since her freshman year when she was named Conference USA Freshman of the Year. She was a first-team all-conference selection twice and was named to the NFCA All-Region Second Team last season. Palmer hit .387 (.414 in conference) last season with 25 RBI, 46 runs and 72 hits. She stole 48 bases on 52 attempts last season, which was the most in Conference USA and a number that broke her own single-season school record she set the season before. Palmer is well on her way to breaking the school record for most career stolen bases, as she has 14 more to be the all-time school leader. She was also fourth in the nation for most stolen bases per game, averaging just under one a game (0.88). Palmer was also recently selected to the 2019 Preseason All-Conference Team as an outfielder.