Florida softball Head Coach Tim Walton announced the addition of six signees to the program Wednesday.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Head Coach Tim Walton and the Florida softball program announced the signings of Ava Brown, Alyssa Hovermale, Ariel Kowalewski, Cassidy McLellan, Keagan Rothrock and Mia Williams to the program Wednesday afternoon.
The 2023 class hails from across the country as Florida, California, Indiana and Texas are represented this year. McLellan (Lakewood Ranch, Fla.) and Williams (Windermere, Fla.) are the 100th and 101st recruits from Florida, while Hovermale (Norco, Calif.) is the 30th from California, Rothrock (Whiteland, Ind.) is the fifth from Indiana and Brown (Montgomery, Texas) and Kowalewski (Richmond, Texas) are the eighth and ninth from Texas.
The decorated signing class is the second in program history to feature multiple Gatorade Player of the Year recipients as Rothrock earned 2022 National Gatorade Player of the Year to go along with her two Indiana Gatorade Player of the Year accolades from this year and last year, while Brown was named this year’s Texas Gatorade Player of the Year.
Overall, the Gators have now signed 11 state Gatorade Player of the Year recipients, two of which earned the award multiple times, along with two National Gatorade Player of the Year winners. In addition, this group of individuals still has the opportunity to add to their accolades for the upcoming 2023 awards cycle as they compete in their last season on their respective high school and travel teams.
This year’s class also includes a Florida Gators legacy. Williams looks to forge her own path as a second-generation Gator as Mia’s parents Jason and Denika both attended and competed at UF. Mia’s dad was a standout on the men’s basketball team during the 1997-98 season, and went on to have a prosperous career in the NBA, while Denika competed on the track and field team and was a two-time All-American in the javelin.
Ava Brown
Hometown – Montgomery, Texas | Position – RHP/1B | Bat/Throw – R/R | Hotshots National – Coached by Nathan Nelson
High School/Travel Ball:
* 2022 Texas Gatorade Player of the Year
* 2022 Max Preps First Team All-American
* 2022 Houston Chronicle Greater Houston Area Hitter and Pitcher of the Year
* 2021 Houston Chronicle Greater Houston Area Hitter and Pitcher of the Year
* 2022 Texas Girls Coaches Association All-Star & All-State Pitcher of the Year
* 2022 District 20-5A MVP
* 2022 All-Montgomery County – 1B
* 2022 Conroe Currier Montgomery County MVP
* 2022 Lake Creek High School Principles List
* 2022 Lake Creek High School A-Honor Roll
* 2022 Montgomery County Academic All-American
* 2022 Texas Girls Coaches Association Scholar-Athlete
Watch – More on Ava Brown<https://floridagators.com/watch/?Archive=22192>
Alyssa Hovermale
Hometown – Norco, Calif. | Position – Infield | Bat/Throw – R/R | Athletics Mercado – Coached by Dave Mercado & Mark Smith
High School/Travel Ball:
* 2022 First Team All-League
* 2022 Cal-Hi Sports All-State
* 2022 Michelle Carew Classic All-Tournament Team
* 2022 All-Academic Team
* 2021 First Team All-League
* 2022 All-Academic Team
Watch – More on Alyssa Hovermale<https://floridagators.com/watch/?Archive=22191>
Ariel Kowalewski
Hometown – Richmond, Texas | Position – Catcher/Utility | Bat/Throw – L/R | Hotshots National – Coached by Nathan Nelson
High School/Travel Ball:
* 2022 PGF Futures All-American
* 2022 Houston Chronicle All-Greater Houston First Team
* 2022 TFL Championship All-Tournament Team
* 2022 Texas UIL District 20-6A Most Valuable Player
* 2022 Texas UIL District 20-6A Academic All-District
* 2021 Texas UIL District 20-6A Most Valuable Player
* 2021 Texas UIL District 20-6A Academic All-District
* 2021 Alliance Fastpitch All-Tournament Team
* 2021 Extra Innings Softball All-Summer Team
* 2020 Extra Innings Softball All-Summer Team
* 2017 USA Softball All-American
Watch – More on Ariel Kowalewski<https://floridagators.com/watch/?Archive=22193>
Cassidy McLellan
Hometown – Lakewood Ranch, Fla. | Position – Outfield | Bat/Throw – L/R | Hotshots National – Coached by Nathan Nelson
High School/Travel Ball:
* 2022 Herald Tribune Softball Player of the Year
* 2022 Lakewood Ranch Offensive Player of the Year
* 2021 Florida 7A Player of the Year
* 2021 Herald Tribune Softball Player of the Year
* 2021 FACA District 16 7A Player of the Year
* 2021 Lakewood Ranch Offensive Player of the Year
* 2021 Florida Dairy Farmers Miss Softball Runner-Up
Watch – More on Cassidy McLellan<https://floridagators.com/watch/?Archive=22190>
Keagan Rothrock
Hometown – Whiteland, Ind. | Position – RHP/DP | Bat/Throw – R/R | Lady Dukes – Coached by James Lamar
High School/Travel Ball:
* 2022 National Gatorade Softball Player of the Year
* 2022 Indiana Gatorade Player of the Year
* 2022 USA Today National High School Player of the Year
* 2022 Extra Innings Softball Player of the Year
* 2022 Indiana 4A State Champion
* 2022 NFCA High School All-American
* 2022 Max Preps First Team All-American
* 2022 Circle City First Team All-Conference
* 2022 First Team All-State
* 2022 First Team All-County
* 2021 Indiana 4A State Champion
* 2021 Max Preps First Team All-American
* 2021 Indiana Gatorade Player of the Year
* 2021 NFCA High School All-American
* 2021 USA Today Indiana High School Female Athlete of the Year
* 2021 USA Today Indiana High School Softball Player of the Year
* 2021 Extra Innings Softball Player of the Year
* 2021 Circle City First Team All-Conference
* 2021 First Team All-State
* 2021 First Team All-County
Watch – More on Keagan Rothrock<https://floridagators.com/watch/?Archive=22189>
Mia Williams
Hometown – Windermere, Fla. | Position – Infield | Bat/Throw – R/R | Hotshots National – Coached by Nathan Nelson
High School/Travel Ball:
* 2021 Florida Athletic Coaches Association First Team All-State
* 2021 Florida Athletic Coaches Association Academic All-State
* Windermere Prep Female Athlete of the Year
* Three-time Honor Roll Member
Watch – More on Mia Williams<https://floridagators.com/watch/?Archive=22188>
