Winning First Team All-American for an athlete is a prestigious honor and for one Lady Knight Softball player, that dream has now become a reality.
Jonna Kallstrom, catcher for the Lady Knights softball team, was awarded the Pacific Coast Athletic Conference First Team All-American award. A sophomore at City, Kallstrom is also an international student who comes from Leksand, Sweden.
With a 3.73 GPA average, Kallstrom is currently carrying 17-units worth of spring classes, including chemistry (with lab), philosophy, English and health.
“My calendar is my best friend for it helps me with time management and balance between school work and athletics,” said Kallstrom, “Working together with my counselor to do my best to not take classes that contain labs during the season also is important. I was unlucky this semester… because the classes in the fall were filled.”
Kallstrom currently is carrying a .213 batting average with a .302 on-base percentage and a .255 slugging percentage, meaning she is consistent on the field along with excelling off the field. She also ranks fourth in the PCAC in walks, which means she is very disciplined at the plate.
“Jonna Kallstrom is a very talented softball player in her 2nd year with the Lady Knights and from day one she showed a great attitude, talent for the sport and leadership qualities that any coach would love to have in one of her players,” said Kathy McGinnis, the dean of Health, Exercise Science and Athletics.
“As a team captain she is very involved with the entire team dynamics. The other players respect and enjoy her and she dandles that admiration with great modesty. As the starting catcher she sees the field in a much different light than the other women on defense. Something even more unique about Kallstrom is that she is a Swedish national here on a educational visa.”
Kallstrom’s teammates love the positive outlook that she brings to the field. “While the load of both school and softball is heavy, I keeps a balance by setting time in my calendar to spend with friends, and time to travel during her off-seasons, Kallstrom shares. I makes sure to live life positively, one day at a time.”
