Augustana University Athletics

Defense is often the key to a great softball team, and good defense starts with the catcher. For four seasons, Kathy "K.K." Orstad, orchestrated the defense from behind the plate for the Vikings. She was the catcher when Augustana captured the NCAA Division II National Championship in 1991. During the championship run, Kathy earned a spot on the 13-member NCAA Division II All-Tournament team.

K.K. wrote, "No doubt, my most memorable event was winning the national championship in 1991. We played three intense games in the tournament. The whole ‘91 season was simply incredible with an awesome finale. I played with, and was coached by, an awesome group of people...there is no I in TEAM!"

In addition to her ability as a catcher, K.K. was a threat at the plate. She set the school record for doubles in a season (14), is third in hits in a season (79),
and fourth for most RBIs in a season (41). Orstad earned All-NCC honors in 1990 and 1991, and was named Academic All-NCC in 1990, 1991, and 1992. She earned Augustana's NCAA Woman of the Year and was named the College Woman Honor Athlete by the Sioux Falls Area Chamber of Commerce in 1992.

K.K. credits her coaches with much of her success, "Coach Jerstad and Coach Emmons were great leaders on and off the field. They both contributed to my success today. Their philosophies of hard work, teamwork, and thorough study skills are reflected in me today. I can't thank them enough." Augustana Women's Basketball Coach, Dave Krauth, also has had an influence on her. She wrote, "Dave started my softball career and molded and groomed me as a very competitive kid. This father-figure made it possible for me to win this award."