Former Cascade Lady Champion Kailey Snell is awaiting a NCAA ruling that would grant her a medical red shirt, extending her softball career at UT-Chattanooga for one more season. (Photo Courtesy of UT-C Athletics )
By CHRIS SIERS
csiers@bedfordcountypost.com
An injury a season ago during her junior year with the UT-Chattanooga Mocs put Kailey Snell one game over the threshold for a potential medical red shirt.
While she wrapped up her senior season, an appeal was submitted and is awaiting review from the NCAA on granting her a medical red shirt.
While she waits, it’s business as usual for Snell in preparing for next year.
“As of today, I technically do not have my redshirt granted just yet. The appeal is currently being reviewed. I was told the outlook looks very good for this to go through, and I am very excited for what this next year has in store for me,” she said.
During her senior season, Snell was a key piece of the Mocs’ run through the SOCON Championship this season.
“I would have to say that winning the SOCON Championship this year was pretty high on my list of accomplishments. Especially so, since we were also the regular season champions, which was a first for me since my time at UTC,” she said.
“Our Championship run was relatively smooth, besides one setback when it came to UNCG sending us to the loser’s bracket. We ended up battling back and beating them twice for the championship, which made the victory that much sweeter.”
Much like her high school career at Cascade, Snell has cemented herself as a key piece of the Mocs’ lineup, batting .314 this season and scoring 37 runs.
She was also 11-for-11 in stolen bases as well.
While the numbers have been solid for Snell, she’s focused on upping her game even more during summer workouts and preparing for what she hopes to be one last run in Chattanooga next year.
“I would love to see my small-ball and short game come back into play. A lot of this past year I heavily relied on my hard slaps and swinging away and got away from utilizing my speed. I would love to be able to start incorporating these swings more in my game this coming year,” she said.
While she wrapped up her undergrad studies this spring, Snell will begin her master’s studies this fall.
“I graduated with a major in Child and Family Studies, along with a minor in Education. This fall, I will be starting my Master’s in Secondary Education. After this coming year, I hope to return home and begin getting involved with teaching and coaching at the high school level,” she said.
For now, the waiting game on the NCAA’s ruling begins and Snell will be back to the usual grind in Chattanooga, preparing for whatever next season holds.
“This summer, I will be giving lessons here in Chattanooga, along with completing our summer workouts,” she said.
UT-C won the regular season and tournament SOCON titles this season and finished with a 42-16 overall record.
UT-C’s season came to an end against Auburn in the Tallahassee regional.
