IRVING, Texas - Kathryn Downing of WKU Softball has been named one of 14 recipients of the Conference USA Spring Spirit of Service Award as announced by the conference office on Wednesday. Downing is one of seven softball players to be honored, the most honorees from a sport this spring.
The C-USA Spirit of Service award is designed to recognize the community service efforts of the league's student-athletes, based upon significant community service, good academic standing and participation in their elected sport. The Spirit of Service Award will be presented three times throughout the year, with the recently announced honorees representing Conference USA's: baseball, golf, softball, tennis and outdoor track and field.
Wrapping up her collegiate career earlier this spring, Downing left her mark in the record books, owning the fifth-best career ERA in WKU Softball history at 2.40. In 2017 alone, the Bowling Green, Ky., native started 36 games in the circle, a mark that goes down as the third-most by a pitcher in a single season. Overall, Downing sported a team-best 2.25 ERA in 40 appearances on the 2017 campaign, including 15 complete games and five complete-game shutouts.
Off the dirt, the journalism and broadcasting major is heavily involved in the community in which she grew up. Downing splits her time as both a Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) leader and a character coach. She is one of the Hilltoppers' Big Red Readers representatives, visiting local elementary schools to encourage reading to boost comprehension. The senior has also assisted at the WKU softball camps hosted on campus, volunteering and connecting with aspiring athletes from the same community as herself.
Downing earned a spot on the 2017 C-USA All-Academic softball squad and has been named to the C-USA Commissioner's Honor Roll each of the seasons since WKU joined the league.
2016-17 SPRING C-USA SPIRIT OF SERVICE HONOREES:
Tai Martin, Charlotte, Women's Tennis
Stephanie Texeira, FIU, Softball
Tai Barber, Florida Atlantic, Women's Golf
Jordan Patrick, Louisiana Tech, Men's Track & Field
Morgan Zerkle, Marshall, Softball
Precious Birdsong, MTSU, Softball
Rachel Walker, Old Dominion, Women's Golf
Savannah Durkin, Rice, Women's Tennis
Danielle Block, Southern Miss, Softball
Avei Logoleo, UAB, Beach Volleyball
Kaitlin Fifield, UTEP, Softball
Randy Bermea, UTSA, Men's Track & Field
Kathryn Downing, WKU, Softball
