Jan. 25, 2013
Softball Countdown: Shayla Starkenburg
- Read the January issue of Hawk Talk Monthly
- Download your Iowa Hawkeye iPad/iPhone app!
- Download your Iowa Hawkeye Android app!
- Big Ten Network: Free Hawkeye Video
- 24 Hawkeyes to Watch
In our countdown to the start of the 2013 softball season, we will feature all 24 Hawkeyes.
Shayla Starkenburg is a freshman from Ankeny, Iowa. The former Ankeny High School standout wears No. 16 for the Hawkeyes. She was selected as the 5A Pitcher of the Year and first team all-state honoree as a senior, after posting a 31-0 record with a 0.58 ERA. Starkenburg had 222 strikeouts in 191.2 innings, allowing 20 runs (16 earned) and 99 hits. She guided Ankeny High School to a 39-6 overall record en route to the state title while leading the state in wins and finishing second in strikeouts. Starkenburg was also a four-time first team all-conference and all-district selection and a two-time honorable mention all-state honoree.
Iowa opens the season Feb. 8 in Houston, Texas. The Hawkeyes face Lipscomb and UT Arlington at the Hilton Houston Plaza Classic.
What is it like working with coach Looper and the coaching staff?
“Working with coach Looper and the coaching staff has been fun! Coach Looper has really helped improve my pitching in such a short amount of time.”
What was the key factor in your recruitment that led you to Iowa City and the Hawkeye softball program?
“A key factor for me was the level of play that Iowa has and how close it was to home. I also liked the coaching staff along with all the girls.”
What is the team goal for 2013?
“Our team goal is to attack every game we play this spring and win the Big Ten.”
What did you do during your free time over the summer?
“I didn’t have free time this summer. I was busy playing for my high school team. We had practices every day and in the end we won state! I also was a nanny for three kids when I wasn’t at softball.”
Who is the most influential person in your life?
“The most influential people in my life are my parents. They have always pushed me to be the best I can be in school and sports. They are great examples of how hard work can pay off and how important it is to succeed in whatever you do. I look up to them as my role models. They have been the most influential people in my life.”
What is your first softball memory?
“My first softball memory was playing for a team called the Thunder. We dominated every 10U team we played. Before every game, we would play the AC/DC song `Thunderstruck’ on the speakers.”
What is your favorite kind of candy?
“My favorite candy is Chewy Sprees!”
Who is your favorite professional athlete?
“Jenny Finch — she is beautiful and one of the world’s best pitchers.”
What is your favorite TV show?
“I love watching CSI. I love the suspense and trying to solve the crime myself.”
What did you want to grow-up to be when you were a kid?
“I always wanted to be a singer or a nurse.”
What is your favorite place to be on campus?
“I love being in the Gerdin (Athletic) Learning Center. I get to see all my athlete friends.”
As a spectator, what is your favorite sport?
“I love watching tennis. My brother is a tennis guy, so he would watch it all the time. As a result, I fell in love with the sport and I love to watch it.”
What is your favorite movie?
“Bridesmaids — it is so funny.”
What is your favorite food/meal?
“My favorite meal is McDonalds’ breakfast — sausage, egg and cheese biscuit, and a cinnamon melt with a Diet Coke.”
What is your favorite restaurant in the Iowa City area?
“Chili’s is my all-time favorite restaurant.”
What is your most memorable softball memory?
“Winning state my senior year — best experience ever!”
What is one word that describes you?
“Spunky.”