McLean County Times

In recognition of the 50th anniversary of NCAA Division III, Illinois Wesleyan University is sharing stories from its athletic history through a monthly series. This initiative highlights the achievements and contributions of various athletes, including former softball player Sam Berghoff.

Sam Berghoff's impact on the Illinois Wesleyan University (IWU) softball program is significant, even four years after her graduation. During her time with the Titans, she set records in 11 career categories. Notably, she holds top positions for slugging percentage (.792), doubles (44), and home runs (33). Her performance places her among the top five in batting average (.428), on-base percentage (.497), runs scored (122), hits (187), RBIs (140), and walks (66). Her senior season was cut short by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Berghoff also excelled in single-season and single-game categories. Her tenure helped IWU achieve a 125-40-1 record and secure three NCAA Division III Softball Tournament appearances.

As a freshman, Berghoff received First Team honors from both the All-College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) and All-Region teams. She was also named to the Division III Softball Championship All-Tournament Team.

Her sophomore year brought further accolades, including another First Team All-CCIW honor and the CCIW Player of the Year award. The Chicago native earned NFCA All-Region First Team recognition and was named a First Team All-American after the 2018 season.

Throughout her career, Berghoff was recognized as CCIW Player of the Week three times and selected twice for the NCAA Regional All-Tournament team. She shared Co-Most Outstanding Player honors at the 2018 Bloomington Super Regional. In her junior year, she appeared on the 2019 National Player of the Year watchlist.

Academically, Berghoff graduated in 2020 with a degree in international and Hispanic studies. Her academic achievements include being a three-time Academic All-CIW honoree and an NFCA All-American Scholar Athlete. She was also twice named to CoSIDA's Academic All-District team and became a CoSIDA Academic All-American in 2020.

Beyond athletics, Berghoff participated in community service projects with IWU's softball program, contributing to initiatives like Polar Plunge, Miracle League, and Midwest Food Bank during Thanksgiving holidays.