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Hebl accepts scholarship to play softball in college
by Gregory R. Norfleet · Sports · February 15, 2018
West Branch High School senior Hallie Hebl said she did not know her softball skills could land her a college scholarship until she opened the mail.
Hebl said she visited William Penn University and somehow the topic turned to softball. Not long after that, she received a letter, inviting her to play for the Statesmen in exchange for a $13,000 per year athletic scholarship — $52,000 over four years.
“I was surprised,” Hebl said Monday morning before signing her letter of intent in front of a crowd of high school students, including several from her softball team. “I didn’t expect it. When I got the letter, I thought it was a mistake.”
The outfielder started playing the sport seven years ago in fifth grade under coaches Kevin Olson and Amy Tisinger.
“I’m very proud of her,” Olson said. “She works very hard to improve. I’m glad she was rewarded for her hard work.”
She is a daughter of Henry and Cheryl Hebl, and her mother was able to join her daughter Monday at the signing ceremony.
“I’m very proud of her,” Cheryl said, also stating she was pleasantly surprised at the offer.
Hebl said she hoped to get an academic scholarship as she had no knowledge of scouts visiting games or checking stats or talking to her coaches.
“I never thought I was good enough for it,” Hallie said. “We’re more of a band family. I’m the first to pop out of that.”
Hebl plans to major in sports management with a minor in either sociology or human resources.
Her other activities include serving as student body president, winter cheer captain (mostly wrestling), show choir, color guard and she plans to join track for the first time in the spring.
Hebl will play for William Penn’s winningest coach in program history with a 582-335 (.635) career record, Mike Christner. According to Statesmenathletics.com, Christner ranks in the Top 20 in wins among active National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics coaches, taking the team to four national tournaments, seven Midwest Collegiate Conference regular-season titles, and four MCC Tournament titles.
A phone message left Tuesday at Christner’s office was not returned prior to this newspaper’s deadline.
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