Defeating University of Wisconsin-Parkside may have just looked like a regular victory for the USI softball team, but for the team, it meant Sue Kunkle clinched her 300 win as head coach. This makes Kunkle the first coach in USI’s history to reach 300 wins.
Kunkle has been head coach of the softball team for 11 seasons and was named Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) coach in 2006, which was the same year the Screaming Eagles made a run in the NCAA II tournament.
“The kids were very generous when it came to making sure that I felt special about the 300 win,” Kunkle said. “For me, it’s not about my wins, it’s about the fact that maybe these kids can experience something greater than just playing ball. It’s about the bigger picture.”
She has coached the Screaming Eagles to the GLVC tournament eight times while at USI. The farthest the Screaming Eagles have advanced in the GLVC tournament under her wing is second place.
The softball team made Kunkle a banner out of their shoe strings to congratulate her for her 300 wins accomplishment.
“We wanted to be the team that got her the 300 win,” Sophomore utility position Kyla Gogel said. “(Kunkle) really doesn’t need the title to prove she is a great coach because she is one. She’s a very down to earth person. She’ll help you with any problem no matter how small it is, on or off the field, which is really why I initially liked the team.”
The USI softball team lost its first game against University of Wisconsin-Parkside, 1-5, but went on to win its second game 5-4. On Sunday, the Screaming Eagles faced off against Lewis University in another doubleheader, which brought its season to a close.
“Our team fought hard all year, and that is not an easy thing to do when you have a younger team,” Kunkle said. “So I told the team at the end of the season that we are a great team, and we made great progress in so many areas and that progress is going to keep us rolling into next year.”
The USI softball team ended its season with an overall record of 27-21, and 16-16 in the GLVC.
“Because we are so young, I told our team that we were going to have some bumps and bruises along the way this season,” Kunkle said. “But they fought hard, and I have been very blessed to coach this group because they are outstanding girls.”
