LATHAM, N.Y. - Penn State Harrisburg softball player Madelyn Lehigh has been named the United East Female Senior Athlete of the Year.  


The highest individual honor the conference bestows, the award represents the epitome of the student-athlete model thanks to their high level of performance in their respective sport, in the classroom, and in their community. Lehigh was chosen from a pool of 10 women who earned United East Senior Scholar-Athlete of the Year honors for their respective sports of competition during the 2024-25 campaign. Joining Lehigh as the men's recipient was St. Mary's (Md.) men's lacrosse player Quinnten Hatfield. Lehigh joins women's basketball standout and inaugural honoree Kendis Butler (2023), as well as baseball player Kevin Lehner (2024) as Penn State Harrisburg student-athletes to earn the conference's highest accolade. 


Lehigh will now represent the United East as the conference's NCAA Woman of the Year Award nominee. She will also represent the league as its women's nominee for the regional and national athlete of the year awards presented by the Division III Commissioners Association.


The most-decorated player in program history, Lehigh completed her illustrious career as the NCAA active leader in triples (31) across all three divisions. Earlier this spring, the senior became the first player in program history to reach the 200-hit mark before finishing her career ranked eighth among active Division III players in runs (175), ninth in hits (236) and 16th in total bases (358). In 2024, the shortstop won a pair of NCAA Statistical Championships in the categories of triples per game (.33) and triples (14), was named to the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-Region IV Third Team and was tabbed the United East Player of the Year. In 2023, the Harrisburg, Pa. native secured NFCA All-Region Second Team honors following the most prolific offensive season in program history after being named the 2022 United East Rookie of the Year thanks to a breakout freshman campaign. A four-time United East All-Conference honoree that included three first-team plaudits, Lehigh ended her career slashing an outstanding .468/.534/.710 with a 1.244 OPS and finished as the program's all-time leader in batting average, on-base percentage, OPS, slugging percentage, hits, runs, RBIs (125), walks (71) and triples.


Lehigh has also been strong in the classroom throughout her career. She is the first Penn State Harrisburg student-athlete to earn three College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District accolades thanks to her combination of athletic and academic prowess. She is a two-time Chi Alpha Sigma Honor Society inductee and she's garnered four straight conference all-academic awards. She also bolstered her academic experience with internships at nearby Focused Physical Development and RAK Baseball. The Human Development and Family Studies major recently graduated in May with a 3.70 cumulative GPA. For her efforts, Lehigh was named the United East Softball Senior Scholar-Athlete of the Year earlier this month.


Serving as Penn State Harrisburg's Student-Athlete Leadership Council Treasurer (SALC) during the 2024-25 campaign, Lehigh helped facilitate the school's canned food drive that collected items for the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank and Penn State Harrisburg's on-campus food pantry. She's also had a hand in Penn State Harrisburg's involvement with National Read Across America Day at Middletown Area elementary schools. Outside of campus, she's involved herself with local communities by volunteering with military families at the nearby Indiantown Gap National Cemetery as part of the Wreaths Across America program, working with students at Central Dauphin's annual Ready For School Fall Festival and serving as a student-athlete mentor with Polar Elite Softball. While starring at Bishop McDevitt High School, Lehigh was also named a Semper Fidelis All-American Finalist which would have allowed her to participate in an immersive Marine Corps experience, including a tour of the nation's capital and interaction with the nation's top civic, athletic and military leaders before the program was halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 


"Throughout four standout seasons at Penn State Harrisburg, Maddy redefined success as a student-athlete," said head coach Mandi Baer. "She became a NCAA statistical champion, program record holder in nearly every offensive category and a three-time academic all-district honoree. She continually demonstrated unmatched drive, focus and leadership. She set the gold standard for Penn State Harrisburg softball, leaving a legacy that will inspire future generations of student-athletes." 


Fans can keep up with Penn State Harrisburg Athletics all season long on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and Youtube using the handle @pshbgathletics.