Muhlenberg softball player Ava Storlazzi was presented with the Sidney Weikert Sophomore Athlete of the Year award at halftime of the football team's Red Door Weekend game against McDaniel on Saturday.

The coveted award has been presented annually since 1973 in memory of Sidney Weikert '63. Sid was an esteemed member of the College's admissions staff and an avid supporter of Muhlenberg athletics. The Weikert Award is given to an athlete who has made significant contributions to their team during their sophomore year. 

Pictured above is Storlazzi with Debbie and Doug Weikert to her right and her parents, Carl and Cathy, and her brother Ryan to her left.

In 2026, Storlazzi was instrumental in leading the Mules to a remarkable 36-13 record, the program's first-ever NCAA regional championship, and a final national ranking of number 15. She hit .409 and ranked second on the team in on-base percentage at .455 and third in runs scored (33), stolen bases (27), and walks (10). She was one of only nine players in all of Division III to steal more than 25 bases without being caught.

Storlazzi's outstanding season earned her first-team All-Centennial Conference and first-team All-Region V honors, as well as a spot on the Centennial Conference Academic Honor Roll. She ranked third in the conference with a .471 batting average in league play and scored twice in the NCAA regional-clinching victory over Middlebury.

This followed a stellar, but injury-shortened, freshman campaign in which Storlazzi served as a key player in the middle infield, batting .298 with a .411 on-base percentage and six stolen bases through 17 starts.