(Editor’s note: Carroll College media release)
HELENA — Carroll College Fighting Saints softball coach Aaron Jackson announced the signing of his 2019 recruiting class, including nine standout student-athletes from across several states.
“The 2019 class is loaded with great talent and even better people,” Jackson said. “From top to bottom this class may be the strongest that we have had. Each of them will come in and push our returners and create competition each and every day. Also, this class is full of kids who know how to win. Each of them has finished high in their high school state tournaments or summer state tournament. To top it off all of them are high achievers in the classroom. This class has the potential to be very special.”
Success is a common theme amongst this class. It features four state champions from the past season and players from Montana, Idaho, Washington, Nevada and Arizona. The nine-member class holds an average GPA of 3.75.
The Saints will be joined by a pair of twins this fall in Emma and Sarah Jenkins of Vancouver, Washington. The duo helped Ridgefield High reach the state tournament for three consecutive seasons, culminating in a third-place finish this past season.
Emma Jenkins is a 5-foot-8 catcher and brings an impressive resume to Carroll. She’s a four-year all-league performer, including twice becoming all-region. She was the Ridgefield MVP for three consecutive seasons and held the best batting average on the team in 2019 while leading the team in home runs for two consecutive seasons.
Emma earned four softball letters and two basketball letters. She held a 3.2 GPA in high school and intends to study nursing at Carroll.
Sarah Jenkins played pitcher and utility for Ridgefield. The 5-foot-6 versatile player also became an all-region player for two seasons. She was a three-time first-team all-league selection, too.
Sarah also earned four softball letters and two basketball letters. She held a 3.5 GPA.
They are the daughters of Randall and Shelbe Jenkins. They have a brother, Colton.
Anna Davidson, a 5-foot-7 catcher/outfielder from Boise, Idaho. She comes to Carroll after prepping at Bishop Kelly High and leading her team to a 4A state championship in 2019. Davidson was a four-year starter and a three-time first-team all-conference catcher. She served as her team’s captain for the past two seasons. Davidson received the 2018 ID Youth Sports Council Honoring the Game Athlete Award. She helped BK reach three state tournaments.
Davidson is accomplished in the classroom, too. She is a National Honor Society Member and with a weighted GPA of 4.056 and graduated summa cum laude. She is a four-time selection of the Outstanding Individual Scholarship Award. Her team won the 2016 Distinguished Team Scholastic Award.
Davidson’s uncle, Judd Benedick, was an All-American linebacker at Pacific Lutheran University and is a member of the PLU Athletics Hall of Fame. Her grandfather, Ken Benedick, played baseball at Northwest Nazarene College. She is the daughter of Jon and Gina Davidson and has one brother, Stu Davidson.
Whitney Durocher becomes a Saint after prepping at Choteau High in Choteau, Montana. The 5-foot-8 first baseman is an accomplished multi-sport athlete. Durocher earned all-conference softball honors beginning her freshman year with a second-team selection. She followed that up with a first-team all-conference nod her sophomore season before becoming all-state her junior and senior seasons. She was picked as her team’s MVP for three consecutive seasons. She helped her team to tie for fifth in 2019 at the Class B/C state softball tournament and won the 2016 state championship.
Durocher also became her team’s MVP on the hardwood for two consecutive seasons. She was a second-team all-conference selection her junior year followed by a first-team all-conference selection her senior season.
Durocher graduated with a 4.0 GPA. She was a four-year honor roll choice and four-year academic All-State. She was a valedictorian.
Her parents are Bill and Brook Durocher. Her brother, Nate, plays golf at Montana State-Northern.
Abby Hanley joins the Saints after prepping at Centennial High in Las Vegas, Nevada. The 5-foot-3 pitcher/outfielder earned three letters in softball, capping her career off with first-team all-state and first-team all-conference honors. She also earned three letters in cross country.
She held a 3.7 GPA in high school. She plans to study pre-med and earn a minor in biology.
She is the daughter of Jenifer and Gary Hanley. She has two brothers, Ty and Cole.
Sarah Conway comes to the Saints after two consecutive state championships with the Great Falls High Bison. The 5-foot-6 outfielder became a Montana Class AA all-state selection over the past three seasons. Her freshman season, she earned all-conference honors.
In addition to softball, she lettered for four years in soccer and will complete on the pitch for the Saints soccer team.
She left GHS with a 3.95 GPA. She appeared on the honor roll every year and was noted as a Distinguished Scholar her senior year.
She is the daughter of Mark and Laura Conway. She has two brothers, Zachary and Cody Conway.
Haylee Curry comes to Carroll after a strong career at Belgrade High. The 5-foot-7 is a catcher/outfielder with three consecutive Class A state championships under her belt. She became a Class A all-state choice as well as an all-conference choice. She earned academic all-state honors.
She held a 3.8 GPA and plans to study athletic training.
She is the daughter of Kelly and Matthew Freese. She has two siblings, Londyn and Korden Freese.
Kirsten Norris joins the Saints after playing for Sandra Day’Connor in Phoenix, Arizona. The 5-foot-7 outfielder helped her team win a state championship this past season in the 6A classification in Arizona. She’s a four-year letter winner and her team qualified for the state tournament each season she suited up. She also played badminton for two years.
She holds a 3.82 GPA and intends to study psychology and pursue a minor in health sciences.
She is the daughter of Sherina and Denny Norris. She has one brother, Brandon Norris.
Haley Kampka becomes a Saint after playing for Stevensville High in Stevensville, Montana. The 5-foot-10 infielder was a four-year starter for the softball team. She became an all-state choice in 2017 and 2019 and a first-team all-conference pick in 2018. Her team went to the state tournament from 2017-19. Kampka holds SHS records with 11 home runs and 91 RBIs. She leaves SHS with a career batting average of .438 and a .505 on-base percentage. She also played club softball for Sparks Fastpitch.
She was on the honor roll throughout high school and a National Honor Society Member. She held a 3.7 GPA and plans to study health sciences.
She’s the daughter of Gary and Shannon Kampka.
