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Young Adds Seven to 2025 Signing Class
11/13/2024 5:08:00 PM | Softball
DURHAM, N.C. – Duke softball head coach Marissa Young announced the signing of seven new additions to the Blue Devil program on Wednesday during National Signing Day.
"The 2025 class is the latest chapter in Duke softball's ongoing effort to recruit top-tier talent and build a championship-caliber team," said Young. "This dynamic class of recruits brings a winning combination of speed, power, and athleticism, and they are ready to make their mark both on and off the field in Durham. We believe that this 2025 class will bring an added dimension to our team. They've demonstrated tremendous promise, and we are confident they will thrive in our program and represent us with pride."
Joining the Blue Devils next season will be London Collins, Brookelyn Grayson, Ariel Krueger, Adelyn Matthews, Caitlyn Nesbitt, Gabriella Shadek and Jayla Stafford.
London Collins:
Position: Outfield
Height: 5-10
Hometown/High School: Round Rock, Texas/Cedar Ridge High School
Career Highlights/Honors:
Why London chose Duke: "I chose Duke because of the amazing education and the extremely welcoming and friendly coaching staff. I love their style of play and the amount of representation in the program."
Brookelyn Grayson:
Position: Infield
Height: 5-5
Hometown/High School: Noblesville, Ind./Noblesville High School
Career Highlights/Honors:
Why Brookelyn chose Duke: "I chose Duke so that I could be elite on the field and in the classroom. At Duke, I feel that I get the best of both worlds as a student and an athlete."
Ariel Krueger:
Position: Infield
Height: 5-8
Hometown/High School: Van Buren Township, Mich./Woodhaven High School
Career Highlights/Honors:
Why Ariel chose Duke: "I felt that God guided me to Duke. I love how Duke has the best of both worlds, being one of the top universities and having some of the best sports teams in the country."
Adelyn Matthews:
Position: Catcher/Outfield
Height: 5-8
Hometown/High School: Tallahassee, Fla./Lawton Chiles High School
Career Highlights/Honors:
Why Adelyn chose Duke: "I chose Duke because the campus was beautiful and the entire coaching staff and student-athletes were so welcoming during my visits."
Caitlyn Nesbitt:
Position: Pitcher/Infield
Height: 5-5
Hometown/High School: Dublin, Ga./Dublin High School
Career Highlights/Honors:
Why Caitlyn chose Duke: "I loved the family atmosphere at Duke. Everyone had great energy and I could see myself growing there, both as an athlete and a person. Overall, it just felt like home."
Gabriella Shadek:
Position: Catcher
Height: 5-8
Hometown/High School: Kinnelon, N.J./Immaculate Heart Academy
Career Highlights/Honors:
Why Gabriella chose Duke: "I chose Duke because it offers the best of both worlds, a very good education and a very competitive and successful softball team."
Jayla Stafford:
Position: Infield
Height: 5-7
Hometown/High School: San Diego, Calif./The Bishops School
Career Highlights/Honors:
Why Jayla chose Duke: "I chose Duke because you can pursue highly rigorous academics as well as play for a nationally ranked softball program. Throughout my recruiting process, I knew I wanted to play for a program where I would be able to achieve a lot on the field as well as in the classroom. Coming from a rigorous high school, I knew I wanted to pursue and continue my high-level academics and set myself up for my future career. I have played for competitive travel ball teams for many years and I have always looked for an environment where I would be able to take strides in my skills and be part of a welcoming environment. I think that Duke softball is a program that is built on community, has a loving and inviting culture, and is a competitive and strong program. There are simply no better people than the ones you find at Duke and within the coaching staff of the softball program. I know the coaches are amazing coaches and even better people. I know I will be in an environment where I can succeed both on the field and in the classroom at Duke."
To stay up to date with Blue Devils softball, follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook by searching "DukeSOFTBALL"
Duke Centennial
In 2024, Duke celebrates its Centennial, marking one hundred years since Trinity College became Duke University. Duke will use this historic milestone to deepen the understanding of its history, inspire pride and strengthen bonds and partnerships, and prepare for a second century of continued excellence and impactful leadership. To learn more, please visit 100.duke.edu
#GoDuke
"The 2025 class is the latest chapter in Duke softball's ongoing effort to recruit top-tier talent and build a championship-caliber team," said Young. "This dynamic class of recruits brings a winning combination of speed, power, and athleticism, and they are ready to make their mark both on and off the field in Durham. We believe that this 2025 class will bring an added dimension to our team. They've demonstrated tremendous promise, and we are confident they will thrive in our program and represent us with pride."
Joining the Blue Devils next season will be London Collins, Brookelyn Grayson, Ariel Krueger, Adelyn Matthews, Caitlyn Nesbitt, Gabriella Shadek and Jayla Stafford.
London Collins:
Position: Outfield
Height: 5-10
Hometown/High School: Round Rock, Texas/Cedar Ridge High School
Career Highlights/Honors:
- Earned First Team All-District
- Named the 2024 Cedar Ridge High School Newcomer of the Year
- Holds the Cedar Ridge High School stolen base record (38)
- Four-year letterwinner
- Two-time Academic All-District
- Member of French Honor Society
Why London chose Duke: "I chose Duke because of the amazing education and the extremely welcoming and friendly coaching staff. I love their style of play and the amount of representation in the program."
Brookelyn Grayson:
Position: Infield
Height: 5-5
Hometown/High School: Noblesville, Ind./Noblesville High School
Career Highlights/Honors:
- Played nine years of travel ball with the Indiana Shockwaves
- Named to the All-Tournament team for Alliance National
- Three-year letterwinner in basketball
- Merit Award winner
- Member of National Honor Society
Why Brookelyn chose Duke: "I chose Duke so that I could be elite on the field and in the classroom. At Duke, I feel that I get the best of both worlds as a student and an athlete."
Ariel Krueger:
Position: Infield
Height: 5-8
Hometown/High School: Van Buren Township, Mich./Woodhaven High School
Career Highlights/Honors:
- Three-time All-Region selection
- Earned All-State honors during her junior year
- Four-year letterwinner
- Four-year member of National Honor Society
- Two-time Academic All-State selection
Why Ariel chose Duke: "I felt that God guided me to Duke. I love how Duke has the best of both worlds, being one of the top universities and having some of the best sports teams in the country."
Adelyn Matthews:
Position: Catcher/Outfield
Height: 5-8
Hometown/High School: Tallahassee, Fla./Lawton Chiles High School
Career Highlights/Honors:
- Four-time First Team All-Big Bend selection
- Four-year letterwinner
- Member of National Honor Society
Why Adelyn chose Duke: "I chose Duke because the campus was beautiful and the entire coaching staff and student-athletes were so welcoming during my visits."
Caitlyn Nesbitt:
Position: Pitcher/Infield
Height: 5-5
Hometown/High School: Dublin, Ga./Dublin High School
Career Highlights/Honors:
- Four-time First Team All-Region
- Named Offensive Player of the Year as a junior
- Earned Defensive Player of the Year as a sophomore
- Member of the Superintendent's Advisory Council
- Four-time Dublin High School Honor Roll selection
Why Caitlyn chose Duke: "I loved the family atmosphere at Duke. Everyone had great energy and I could see myself growing there, both as an athlete and a person. Overall, it just felt like home."
Gabriella Shadek:
Position: Catcher
Height: 5-8
Hometown/High School: Kinnelon, N.J./Immaculate Heart Academy
Career Highlights/Honors:
- 2024 North Jersey Player of the Year
- Three-time First Team All-County
- Two-time First Team All-State
- Four-year letterwinner
- Set Immaculate Heart Academy's single-season home run record (15)
- Three-time Honor Roll selection
Why Gabriella chose Duke: "I chose Duke because it offers the best of both worlds, a very good education and a very competitive and successful softball team."
Jayla Stafford:
Position: Infield
Height: 5-7
Hometown/High School: San Diego, Calif./The Bishops School
Career Highlights/Honors:
- Four-time All-Coastal League First Team
- 2023 Coastal League Player of the Year
- Four-year letterwinner
- Earned The Bishops School Knights Leadership Award in three consecutive years
- Posted the highest batting average in the county during her freshman season
- Member of Spanish Honor Society
Why Jayla chose Duke: "I chose Duke because you can pursue highly rigorous academics as well as play for a nationally ranked softball program. Throughout my recruiting process, I knew I wanted to play for a program where I would be able to achieve a lot on the field as well as in the classroom. Coming from a rigorous high school, I knew I wanted to pursue and continue my high-level academics and set myself up for my future career. I have played for competitive travel ball teams for many years and I have always looked for an environment where I would be able to take strides in my skills and be part of a welcoming environment. I think that Duke softball is a program that is built on community, has a loving and inviting culture, and is a competitive and strong program. There are simply no better people than the ones you find at Duke and within the coaching staff of the softball program. I know the coaches are amazing coaches and even better people. I know I will be in an environment where I can succeed both on the field and in the classroom at Duke."
To stay up to date with Blue Devils softball, follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook by searching "DukeSOFTBALL"
Duke Centennial
In 2024, Duke celebrates its Centennial, marking one hundred years since Trinity College became Duke University. Duke will use this historic milestone to deepen the understanding of its history, inspire pride and strengthen bonds and partnerships, and prepare for a second century of continued excellence and impactful leadership. To learn more, please visit 100.duke.edu
#GoDuke
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