Catherine Heflin, senior first baseman for the varsity softball team at WHS, announced her commitment to Swarthmore College via Instagram on September 10th.
Last season, Heflin helped the softball team by batting .382, and she led the team in doubles and runs scored. Heflin has started for the softball team since her freshman year, and she was a big part of the team’s success during the 2020-21 season when the girls won the North 2, Group 4 sectional championship. Heflin has had a very successful career for the Blue Devils, and one of the best moments of her career, she recounts, “was when I was nominated for Skyland/Area UCC Player of the Week.”
Heflin has played softball since a very young age. Growing up, she played basketball and softball. In high school, she took up track to help stay in shape during the off-season. Along with track, to stay in shape she trains with CR Speed & Strength and plays for a reputable club softball team, NJ Pride.
Heflin will be joining the Phoenixes next fall. Swarthmore College, a Division III program located in Swarthmore, PA, competes in the Centennial Conference. Last season, Swarthmore finished 26-18 and took home the Centennial Conference Championship.
Throughout her recruiting process, Heflin was interested in Ivy League Schools and schools in the NESCAC division, specifically Tufts, Hamilton, and Babson. She ultimately chose Swarthmore because, in Heflin’s words, “they care about turning their girls into good people, not just good players.”
Swarthmore is a very prestigious school with an acceptance rate of eight percent, and according to U.S. News and World Report, Swarthmore is ranked fourth for national liberal arts colleges. Catherine plans on majoring in biomedical engineering, and she said, “Swarthmore will challenge me academically.”
Grace Loder, the captain of the 2022-23 softball team, was not surprised by Heflin’s accomplishment. She said, “Cat’s undeniable drive and hard work in everything she does has been a quality I have admired for the 4+ years I was able to play with her. She has grown as a player, but more importantly, a person who is more than capable of what is to come. I could not be more proud as a [former] teammate and friend, and I cannot wait to see all she accomplishes in the future.”
Heflin is looking forward to entering her senior season this spring with the goal of helping her team win the county championship, and she plans to continue the winning culture the WHS softball team strives for.
