Kane County Reporter

When an athlete who won awards in multiple sports in high school focuses on softball for college, but only appears in three games in her freshman year, attitude could be a concern.

 But for Northwestern's Anna Petersen, it definitely has not been.

"I’m very fortunate for each opportunity that I’ve had on the field over the past three years, but I’m also grateful for the lessons I’ve learned from the dugout," Petersen, a senior outfielder, told the Kane County Reporter. "Getting to fill a variety of roles has helped me become a better student of the game, and I’ve tried to make the most of each role to contribute to the team’s success."

Petersen is a multi-talented athlete, earning 12 letters across golf, basketball and softball at Metea Valley High School. Petersen said that while she loves each of the three sports she plays, softball always has been her first love.

"I loved playing three sports throughout high school, but softball has always been my passion," Petersen said. "I started playing in the backyard with my dad, and my love for the game didn’t stop growing."

Even from her freshman year, Petersen made the most of her opportunities. In the first game she appeared in, against Boise State on Feb. 8, she launched the third pitch she saw into the leftfield bleachers, a towering home run for her first collegiate hit. While she only appeared in four games in her sophomore season, she saw much more playing time in 2016 as a junior. 

Petersen appeared in 29 games as a junior, 15 of those being starts (13 in the outfield, two as designated hitter). She's also shown herself to be a very diverse and disciplined batter. Against North Carolina on Feb. 20, she launched a solo home run. Six days later, against Oregon State, she walked four times. And in a game against Quinnipiac, she didn't record a hit, but she walked three times, stole two bases (the first two of her career), scored twice and had an RBI. She's also had some clutch at-bats, such as a late-game, pinch-hitting appearance against Oklahoma State in an NCAA Tournament elimination game, in which she hit a deep sacrifice fly that tied the game.

Petersen's attitude has contributed to her increased role and success, as she always makes sure to keep herself ready to contribute. 

"Regardless of how many at-bats you’ve had in the season, you control your attitude, energy and effort at every practice and game, and you can choose to add to the team’s energy or take away from it," she said. "I look forward to contributing from whatever role my team needs me to fill next year and will continue to work hard in the off-season."

Petersen is a proud Wildcat, following in the footsteps of her grandfather. However, her father was an athlete at Iowa State, and she was recruited by other schools, including Michigan State and Illinois. But to her, her recruitment was hardly a decision.

"I was born and raised in Evanston, so coming to Northwestern feels like coming home," Petersen said. "When I was looking at schools during my recruiting process, I couldn’t pass up Northwestern’s combination of world-class academics and Big Ten athletics. Our athletic department goes above and beyond to help NU student-athletes succeed on and off the field, and prepare for life after graduation. I can’t speak highly enough of our athletic administrators, student advisers, and coaches. Coming to Northwestern was the best decision I’ve ever made, and I’m very thankful to be wearing purple."