NAPERVILLE — Augustana’s Aubrey Gradin and Illinois Wesleyan’s Gianna Certa have been named the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) Softball Student-Athletes of the Week on Monday after turning in strong performances during the opening week of conference play.
 
Hitter: Audrey Gradin, Augustana
At the plate, Gradin helped lead the Augustana offense through a productive week that included several high-scoring results. The sophomore from Davenport, Iowa, finished with seven hits, three home runs and eight RBI. 
 
In a doubleheader against Coe, she totaled five hits across the two games and hit a grand slam in the second contest to help the Vikings secure a 16-11 victory. Gradin also continued that production in Augustana’s conference-opening series against Millikin, recording another home run while posting two hits and three RBI in the first game.
 
Pitcher: Gianna Certa, Illinois Wesleyan
For Illinois Wesleyan, Certa provided three effective appearances in the circle as the Titans opened CCIW play with a 4-0 record. The Third Lake, Ill. native earned a complete-game win at North Central, striking out seven in a 4-2 victory that followed a lengthy lightning delay. 
 
The senior later added another win against Wheaton, throwing a five-inning shutout and also supplying two innings of hitless relief in the first game of that doubleheader. Over 14.0 innings during the week, Certa allowed two runs and struck out 10 to improve to 5-4 on the season.

2026 CCIW Softball Student-Athletes of the Week
Hitter
April 6: Audrey Gradin, Augustana
March 30: Charley Condill, Millikin
March 23: Abby Whitehead, Wheaton
March 16: Gwen Hendrick, Carthage
March 9: Clare Rettler, Carthage
March 2: Kayla Lorenz, North Park

Pitcher
April 6: Gianna Certa, Illinois Wesleyan
March 30: Anais Fernandez, Carthage
March 23: Shylah Dozeman, Wheaton
March 16: Sam Schilf, North Central
March 9: Sam Schilf, North Central
March 2: Makayla Wall, Carroll