WICHITA, Kan. - Ryley Nihart was tabbed American Athletic Conference Co-Freshman of the Year, highlighting the conference awards for Wichita State softball, the league announced Tuesday morning.

Lauren Lucas was named a First Team All-Conference selection for the third time in her career (2022, 2023, 2025). Wichita State has had at least one first team honoree every season since 2013.

A native of Alvin, Texas, Nihart was also named to the All-Conference Second Team and All-Freshman Team. In conference play, Nihart appeared 21 games, making 17 starts in the circle. She had a team-low 3.08 ERA in 97.2 innings. Nihart was 10-4 with 49 strikeouts, and opponents hit just .242 against her. Overall this season, the true freshman is 10-7 with a 2.92 ERA in 124.2 innings. Her eight complete games are also tops on the team. Nihart is the third Shocker to take home American Freshman of the Year honors, joining Alex Aguilar and Addison Barnard.

Lucas returned to form after missing the 2024 season with an injury to lead the Shockers in batting average (.386), hits (61), RBIs (42), total bases (113) and on base percentage (.500). Her 13 home runs and 11 doubles rank second on the team. Lucas' 13 home runs this season also mark a career high. In conference games, Lucas hit .395 with four doubles, nine home runs and 26 RBIs. Her nine home runs tied for third most in conference play. As it stands now, Lucas holds spots on several career record lists at Wichita State: second in batting average, third in on base percentage, fourth in slugging percentage and triples, fifth in RBIs, seventh in doubles, ninth in runs and 10th in walks.

Joining Nihart on the All-Freshman Team was teammate Brookelyn Livanec. Livanec burst into the lineup at the start of conference play and never looked back. She started all but one game in AAC play, hitting .351 with five doubles, a triple, 10 RBIs and 13 runs scored. Overall this season, Livanec has produced a .363 batting average, eight doubles, a triple, 15 RBIs and 19 runs in 42 games as a true freshman. Her .363 average at the plate is second highest on the team.

The Shockers open the 2025 American Athletic Conference Championship on Wednesday, May 7 at 3 p.m. CT vs. the winner of UTSA/Tulsa.

2025 American Athletic Conference Softball Regular-Season Awards
 
Player of the Year
Jenna Lord, Charlotte
 
Pitcher of the Year
Autumn Courtney, Florida Atlantic*
 
Defensive Player of the Year
Jesiana Mora, Florida Atlantic
 
Freshmen of the Year
Jaylah Jarrell, Charlotte
Ryley Nihart, Wichita State
 
Coaching Staff of the Year
Florida Atlantic
 
All-Conference First Team
P – Autumn Courtney, Florida Atlantic*
P – Payton Dixon, South Florida
P – Belle Sardja, South Florida
C – Chloe Yeats
1B – Morgan Johnson, East Carolina
2B – Cierra Simon, North Texas
SS – Maci Cole, Tulsa
3B – Jenna Lord, Charlotte
OF – Kylie Hammonds, Florida Atlantic
OF – Kailyn Bearpaw, North Texas
OF – Lauren Lucas, Wichita State
DP/U/Non-P – Madison Conley, North Texas*
 
All-Conference Second Team
P – Ainsley Lambert, South Florida
P – Ryley Nihart, Wichita State
C – Annie Kate Dalton, East Carolina
1B – Bella Cimino, Florida Atlantic
1B – Celeste Wood, Tulsa
2B – Jaylah Jarrell, Charlotte
SS – Kiley Channell, Florida Atlantic
3B – Jesiana More, Florida Atlantic
OF - Emma Jackson, East Carolina
OF – Bella Foran, Florida Atlantic
OF – Olivia Elliott, South Florida
DP/U/Non-P – Kari Shedrick, Charlotte
 
All-Freshman Team
P – Kendall Frost, East Carolina
P – Ryley Nihart, Wichita State
1B – Ausha Moore, North Texas
2B – Jaylah Jarrell, Charlotte
2B – Destiny Johns, Florida Atlantic
OF – Bella Foran, Florida Atlantic
DP – Brookelyn Livanec, Wichita State
 
* denotes unanimous selection