SIOUX FALLS, S.D.  – Augustana University's Gracey Brink was voted by the league coaches as the NSIC Outstanding Senior of the Year in softball. A native of Rapid City, South Dakota and graduate of Stevens High School, Brink is a fifth-year senior majoring in exercise science & Spanish while excelling at catch for the Vikings.  

The "NSIC Outstanding Senior of the Year Award" is presented to a NSIC Softball student-athlete who participates at their institution for four years and is academically superior while making a positive contribution to their team and the University. The NSIC Outstanding Senior of the Year award was initiated in 2020-21 to honor an outstanding senior that exemplifies the attributes of the model NSIC student-athlete.

In the classroom, Brink earned 2023 College Sports Communicators Academic All-America First Team honor and NSIC Myles Brand All-Academic with Distinction Award winner.  She is a multiple time member of the NSIC All-Academic Team of Excellence and the Augustana University Dean's List.  She is a member of the National Society of Leadership and Success Club at Augustana.  

The 2024 NSIC Softball Player of the Year and two-time All-NSIC First team selection,  Brink led the NSIC batting average at .494 and held the conference's best OPS with 1.534 in 28 games played.  In 81 at-bats she accounted for 36 runs with 40 hits and homered nine times with 19 RBIs and an NSIC-best slugging percentage of .963.  In the field, she has a perfect fielding percentage of 1.000 and 143 put-outs as she helped Augustana to its fourth-straight NSIC Championship.  Brink has earned four different All-Region honors and two different All-America honors.  

When not on the field or in the classroom, Brink is an active member of Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and is a Co-Leader of the Pre-Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, and Chiropractic Club at Augustana. She has coordinated club meetings for over thirty club members that provide beneficial perks and knowledge to the members for their future professional endeavors. She has organized annual fundraising events with the Special Olympics, Prairie Creek Retirement Home, and Trail Ridge Senior Living Community.  

"Gracey is the true definition of a servant leader," said Head Coach Gretta Melsted. "She is one of the most humble student-athletes I've ever come across. There is no task too big, too small, or too menial for Gracey. She is the first to jump in and assist with anything, even cleaning up the floor of the bus when one of her teammates dropped her meal. She is a true role model for her teammates in all aspects of life. She is one of the hardest workers that I have ever coached and this extends to the classroom, not just on the field. She lives a life of integrity and knows she is part of something larger than herself and that it is important to give back to the community. She is a true gem and a beacon of hope for the future!."

Brink is the fifth Viking to earn the award in their respective sport this season, joining Erika Bute, Isaac Fink, Molly Stevens, and Florentia Hadjigeorgiou. She is also the first Viking softball player to earn the award.