(Greenville, SC) The National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) announced Cardinal Megan Laib (SR/Tinley Park, IL) as the 2020 Softball Game Plan 4 LIFE Character Award recipient. The Game Plan 4 Life Award is given to one softball student athlete each year who epitomizes the Christian character qualities of love, integrity, faith, and excellence.
"Megan is one of our most committed athletes on our campus," says Athletic Director Lonnie Pries. "Her dedication to her sport, her academics, and her personal growth is evident and serves as a great example for all of her teammates."
A true leader for the Cardinals, Laib has been a consistent threat at the plate and a staple at third base. The senior averaged .554 from the plate with 31 doubles, 8 homeruns, 49 runs, and 54 RBI's. In 2018 she was a member of the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference (WHAC) All-Conference Team and NCCAA All-Regional Team. In 2019, she helped lead her team to an NCCAA World Series Final Four.
Laib is said to have the utmost integrity on and off the field. She strives to do what is right for the program, not what is popular, and holds her teammates accountable to do the same. The senior majors in justice and public policy and holds a 3.48 GPA. Laib has been honored as a member of the All WHAC Academic Team (2019, 2020), is a 2020 CoSIDA All-District Nominee, a member of the 2019 Honors Dean List (2019), and an NCCAA Scholar-Athlete.
Last year Laib was injured in a horrible accident while playing softball which she says helped strengthen her faith. "I didn't know if I would be the same after (the accident). I truly believe that God was by my side through the whole thing and He healed me. All the prayers that were sent my way during the time from my professors, classmates, teammates, coaches, and my family were heard and they helped me heal! My faith grew more during that time, and it became something very important for me."
Head Coach Hailey Cavanagh is most proud of Megan for her passion for the game, her teammates and her growth in her faith. "Megan had every reason last year to hang up her cleats and walk away from the game after taking a foul ball to her eye and breaking her eye socket," said Cavanagh. "But she consistently kept her vision ahead on recovery, and being back on the field to help her team. Sure enough, the day she was cleared she was getting reps and hits a homer in her first game back. The growth in her faith has been fun to witness, as she's grown closer to God and always has him at her side, which is really why I believe she got through that recovery."
"Megan's impact is going to be felt and missed," states Cavanagh. "She is competitive, dedicated, and hardworking, never taking a day off and she encourages and pushes those around her."
Megan is the first Cardinal softball player in program history to receive this prestigious award from the NCCAA.
