Special report on the Florida Gators softball team
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The University of Florida Gators softball program, under the direction of four-time Southeastern Conference Coach of the Year Tim Walton, signed four future Gators – Katie Chronister, Jaimie Hoover,Jordan Roberts and Jacquelyn Switzer – to National Letters of Intent during the fall signing period.
Arriving on campus for the 2016-17 school year, the four-player class will look to immediately contribute to a Gator squad that captured its second-straight national championship in 2015.
“We are really excited about this year’s signing class and what these student-athletes will contribute to the future of the Florida softball program,” Walton said. “These four young ladies bring a tremendous amount of athleticism and experience at a high level with their game. This group will compete right away for starting positions and give us a ton of options at many positions for years to come.”
Below is a glimpse at each of Florida’s four signees:
KATIE CHRONISTER
Alachua, Fla.
Gainesville High School
L/L | LHP/1B
Travel Team: Santa Fe Inferno
- A 2016 graduate of Gainesville High School
- Plays travel ball with the Santa Fe Inferno, coached by Shelby Hill
- Finished ninth (2013-14) and fifth (2014-15) at the ASA Nationals over the past two years with the Santa Fe Inferno Hill
- 2015 Class 6A Pitcher of the Year and First-Team All-State in Class 6A
- Two-Time First-Team All-Area performer (2014, 2015)
- Led GHS to its first-ever FHSAA State Tournament appearance in Class 6A
- Two-Time Citizenship Award Winner (2014, 2015)
- Was GHS’s Junior Class President during the 2014-15 school year
- Currently serves as Gainesville’s Student Body Secretary
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JAIMIE HOOVER
Suwanee, Ga.
Collins Hill High School
R/R | INF
Travel Team: Georgia Elite
- A 2016 graduate of Collins Hill High School
- Plays travel ball with Georgia Elite Gold, coached by Australia Hoover
- Was a member of the 2014 Triple Crown Nationals 16U Champions
- Helped lead Georgia Elite to two top-10 finishes at PGF Nationals (2012-13) and two top-20 finishes (2014-15)
- Led Collins Hill to the 2013 GHSA Class 6A State Championship
- 2015 Gwinnett Diamond Club High School Player of the Year
- 2015 Gwinnett Daily Post Super Six Award Winner
- Three-time All-Region, All-County and All State first-team selection (2013, 2014, 2015)
- Has set Collins Hill career homerun record
- In addition to softball, Hoover played on CHHS’s basketball team during her freshman year and senior year
- Member of the National Honor Society
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JORDAN ROBERTS
Live Oak, Fla.
Suwannee High School
R/R | C
Travel Team: Team Mizuno Florida
- A 2016 graduate of Suwannee High School
- Plays travel ball with Team Mizuno Florida, coached by Mike Morgan
- Assisted the Gold Coast Hurricanes to a ninth-place finish at the PGF Nationals and a bronze medal at the Colorado Fireworks Tournament in 2014
- Three-time Gainesville Sun First-Team All-Area (2013-15)
- Currently holds the SHS home run record
- Named Suwannee’s freshman (2013) and sophomore (2014) Offensive Player of the Year, and was her team’s MVP last season (2015)
- In 2013, Roberts led the Bulldogs to the FHSAA 5A Final Four
- In addition to softball, Roberts has played volleyball, weightlifted, ran cross country and was a member of the swim team
- As a weightlifter, she qualified for the state meet during her freshman and sophomore years
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JACQUELYN SWITZER
Grayson, Ga.
Archer High School
R/R | OF
Travel Team: Birmingham Thunder Bolts
- A 2016 graduate of Archer High School
- Plays travel ball with the Birmingham Thunder Bolts, coached by Richard Shea
- Led Archer to a GHSA 2015 Regional Championship
- Earned a state championship in 2012 and was a second-team all-state performer on that squad
- Named AHS’s Offensive Player of the Year in 2013
- In addition to softball, Switzer, was a member of the track team and earned all-county honors in 2012 and 2013 and she played on the AHS’s basketball team during her freshman and sophomore years