Notre Dame head coach Deanna Gumpf will add four talented student-athletes to what will already be an incredibly stacked roster for the 2012 campaign.

Four Prep Athletes Sign With Notre Dame Softball

Dec. 16, 2010

NOTRE DAME, Ind. – Notre Dame head softball coach Deanna Gumpf recently announced the signing of four prep student-athletes who have decided to continue their academic and athletic careers at the University beginning in the fall of 2011. The class covers three geographic regions of the country in Katey Haus (Oceanside, Calif.), Emilee Koerner (Tustin, Calif.), Jenna Simon (Granger, Ind.) and Cassidy Whidden (Parrish, Fla.).

“We could not be happier with this incoming class,” Gumpf said. “Our staff feels like we got some of the best players from around the nation. This class is very befitting of our program as a whole in terms of athleticism, power and speed.”

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Katey Haus

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Katey Haus – IF – 5-5 – Vista – Oceanside, Calif.

The Haus File: Prepped at Vista (Calif.) while earning four letters in both softball and field hockey … two-time team captain and all-city choice in softball … also earned Coaches Award in softball as a junior … twice named team captain, MVP, all-city and all-conference in field hockey … played in the 2008 adidas Futures all-star softball game … led field hockey at the western region’s National Futures Championship … made five appearances in the ASA national tournament … member of Honors Club … full name is Katey Lynne Haus … born July 17, 1993 … daughter of Margaret and Edward Haus … has one younger brother, Robert … aunt, Terri Kilpatrick, played softball at New Mexico.

Deanna Gumpf on Haus: “Katey is a very dynamic player who brings a tremendous amount of athleticism to our program. I think that her versatility will provide her the opportunity to contribute to our success the first moment she steps on campus.”

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Emilee Koerner

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Emilee Koerner – IF/OF – 5-5 – Foothill – Tustin, Calif.

The Koerner File: Three-time all-conference choice … four-time varsity letterwinner at Foothill (Calif.) … named all-city as a freshman … hit .349 with 24 RBI and four home runs as a sophomore … totaled 66 RBI and eight homers with a .324 average through her first three prep seasons … led travel team to ASA national title in 2004 … member of National Honor Society and Christian Club … full name is Emilee Johanna Koerner … daughter of Patti and Mike Koerner … born January 14, 1993, in Orange, Calif. … brother, Matt, played baseball at Arizona.

Deanna Gumpf on Koerner: “Emily can do it all. It will be hard to keep her off the field. We were more and more impressed with each game we saw her play. She will certainly continue to improve under our watch and should develop into a fine college player.”

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Jenna Simon

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Jenna Simon – IF – 5-4 – Penn – Granger, Ind.

The Simon File: Led Penn (Ind.) to three conference titles as a prep … named all-state, all-conference and team MVP as a junior … Northern Indiana Conference MVP in 2010 … finalist for Indiana’s Gatorade Player of the Year in 2010 … second team all-conference and all-state in 2009 … holds school records for highest batting average (.594), hits (59) and stolen bases (41) in a season … totaled 159 hits and 162 runs scored through three seasons of high school competition … played on the club circuit with Indiana Magic Gold under head coach Kim Clay (father of current Notre Dame senior Alexia Clay) … member of Key Club, Big Brothers / Big Sisters, Habitat for Humanity and DECA … born August 8, 1992, in Buffalo, N.Y. … daughter of Ann and Bill Simon … oldest of three children.

Deanna Gumpf on Simon: “Jenna is without a doubt one of the fastest players in this region of the country, if not the entire nation. Even though her first season as an Irish player will not begin in over a year, we’ve already given her the green light to start stealing bases. She can fly around the basepaths, and Jenna will undoubtedly make a tremendous impact on our success while she is here.”

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Cassidy Whidden

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Cassidy Whidden – C/IF – 5-6 – St. Stephen’s – Parrish, Fla.

The Whidden File: Earned three letters at St. Stephen’s (Fla.) as a two-time team captain and MVP … recognized on ESPN’s Top Players to Watch list … named all-state as a freshman and twice named all-city and all-conference … hit .588 as a junior while recording at least one hit in each game throughout the season … scored 32 runs and drove in 12 more with 10 doubles, five triples and two home runs … went errorless throughout the season while playing shortstop … invited to the adidas Futures Top 100 camp and the OnDeck Softball Elite Futures camp … played on the travel circuit for New Jersey Intensity under head coach Kevin O’Donnell (father of current Irish pitcher Brittany O’Donnell) … finished seventh at 2009 Gold Nationals and placing among the top-10 at the 2010 Premier Nationals tournament … also lettered four times in soccer while leading squad to three conference and regional crowns … two-time team captain and three-time MVP with three all-conference and all-city accolades on the pitch … also named all-state in soccer as a sophomore … earned additional letters in golf (freshman), swimming (junior) and cross country (senior) … holds county record in the 200m, a mark which has stood for over five years … member of student government, National Honor Society and Spanish Honor Society … named homecoming queen … junior and senior class president … peer tutor and school ambassador … born January 24, 1993 … daughter of Elizabeth and Bruce Whidden … has an older sister, Ashton, and brother, Chandler … Chandler is a student manager for the softball team at Alabama … Ashton pitches for St. Leo (Fla.).

Deanna Gumpf on Whidden: “We loved watching Cassidy during the summer tournaments. She is such a strong, vocal leader and is always the most intense player on the field. Cassidy will never sell herself – or her team – short when it comes to winning. We’re excited for her to bring that mentality to our program.”

–ND–