Completed Event: Softball at #10 Arkansas on May 23, 2026 , Loss , 2, to, 10 , (F/5)
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Final
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at #10 Arkansas
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Building Duke Softball: Emilie Cieslak
6/28/2016 5:00:00 AM | Softball
DURHAM, N.C. – Duke Softball head coach Marissa Young and the Blue Devil staff will welcome the first four student-athletes to the program this fall. Infielder Emilie Cieslak will join the Blue Devils from Montvale, NJ.
Check back to GoDuke.com throughout the coming weeks for profiles on each of the newest Blue Devils, and be sure to follow the squad all year on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
Infield
Montvale, N.J. (Immaculate Heart Academy)
High School: Four-year letterwinner at Immaculate Heart Academy in the Township of Washington, N.J. … Played for head coach Anthony LaRazza first three years and Diana Fasano during final campaign ... Non-Public A state champion as a junior and helped the squad to three league championships in first three seasons ... Earned all-league honors as a sophomore and junior ... A First Team All-County selection and First Team All-North Jersey pick during junior year ... named First Team All-County, First Team All-State and First Team All-East Coast as a senior ... As a rookie, recorded 25 hits, including six doubles, and 11 runs batted in ... During sophomore season, registered 30 hits, six doubles and 22 RBI ... Batted .362 with a .542 slugging percentage, 38 hits, 38 RBI, seven doubles, three triples and two home runs as a junior ... Earned 100th career hit during a senior campaign that won her the YMCA Award... Served as President of Bridges, a club for women's and children's education in third-world countries ... Member of the High Honor/Honor Roll and Becca's Closet, a non-profit organization that donates prom dresses to women who cannot afford one … A three-year letterwinner as a power forward in basketball ... Helped basketball program to four league championships, a county championship as a freshman and a state championship as a senior.
Club: A member of the New Jersey Pride from 2012-14 under head coaches Rob Stern and Anthony LaRazza ... Joined LaRazza on the Akadema Elite in 2015.
Personal: Born Emilie Rae Cieslak on October 16, 1997, in Montvale, N.J. … Daughter of Mark and Janet Cieslak … Has an older brother (Mark) … Father is the head baseball coach at St. Joseph's Regional High School in Montvale, N.J., and was a member of the Cincinnati Reds organization … Brother is a senior on the football team at Columbia.
Young on Cieslak: “Emilie is a solid corner with good stick. She is the father of a coach, so she knows the game, understands the hard work and commitment needed to be a good player and great teammate. Emilie is an old soul that will be the Mother Hen of our 2016 in coming class!"
Cieslak on Duke: “Sports was always on the TV in my house growing up, especially college basketball. Duke grew to be one of my favorites, always finding a way to win together, as a team. The program had this relentless and fearless pursuit to win that I think impressed me the most. When I found out Duke was starting a softball program and I met Coach Young, I loved that she has no intentions to ease into the ACC as a program. She wants to win and compete right from the start and that's how I feel as well. At the end of the day, Duke embodies everything I've ever wanted in a school, both athletically and academically. It was a no-brainer for me.”
Players Mentioned
1B/3B
/ SoftballSaturday, May 23
Friday, May 22
Wednesday, May 20
Sunday, May 17
