Carl Junction senior Kara Stutesman signed a letter of intent to play softball for Abilene Christian University, Friday, April 16. Stutesman, a 3-year letterman, was catcher for the 2009 conference and district champion Lady Bulldogs.

Stutesman said she first visited the ACU campus in Texas when she was making her round of college visits; she then returned in January for a tryout. “They asked me to come play for them at that time,” said Stutesman.

Her mother, Bonnie Stutesman, said the coaches seemed very impressed with her daughter’s performance. “They had her practice with the team. All it took was the one practice with the team. They told her they wanted her to join the team right then,” she said.

Stutesman began drawing attention in her sophomore year when she was named designated player to the first team All-Conference. As a junior, she was named first team All-Conference and All-District as a catcher and second team All-Region.

In her senior year, Stutesman was named first team All-District catcher and second team All-Conference and All-Region. Perhaps even more impressive is the fact that Stutesman received All-Academic honors three years in a row.

Stutesman is tied with Kaitlyn Wilson for most home runs in a season with six; she hit six homers in her junior season (2008), with Wilson tying the mark in 2009. In her final two seasons at CJHS, Stutesman had a cumulative batting average of .347 and an on-base percentage of .488. During that time, Stutesman had 17 doubles, one triple and six home runs; she also had 29 RBIs and 15 walks.

Stutesman lettered four years in track and field, competing in the shot put and discus. She also lettered in cheerleading as the mascot.

As a member of the “All A” Honor Society, Stutesman is also a member of the National Honor Society and Spanish National Honor Society. She is a four-time member of the All-District Honor Choir and an All-State Honor Choir alternate in 2010.

She plans to major in mass communication/broadcasting and said her dream job after graduation would be to become a sports commentator for ESPN.