2017 GEORGIA TECH SOFTBALL INFORMATION GUIDE @GATECHSOFTBALL
SUPPORT STAFF SHELBY PICKETT
CARLOS BUSTAMANTE
GRADUATE MANAGER
ATHLETIC TRAINER
UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH, 2016 FIRST SEASON AT GEORGIA TECH
PLAYERS & STAFF
Shelby Pickett enters her first season as a graduate assistant for the softball team. Pickett played at Pitt from 2013-16 where she served as team captain, and received several honors, including second-team All-ACC, an All-ACC Tournament Team selection, and NFCA all-region second team. With the Panthers, she was part of the first Pitt softball team to reach the ACC Championship Game and NCAA Regional Final in 2014. Prior to her time at Pitt, she played two seasons at Ohio State where she earned Ohio State Scholar-Athlete honors and was selected to the All-Big Ten third team. In the summer of 2012, she served as an assistant coach with her former club team – The Next Level.
SHELBEE SOWDERS GRADUATE MANAGER
SOUTHERN MISS, 2015 FIRST SEASON AT GEORGIA TECH
Shelbee (Rodgers) Sowders enters her first season as a graduate assistant for Georgia Tech softball. Sowders played two years at Southern Miss as a pitcher where she made 29 appearances in the circle with 22 starts and 12 complete games as a senior in 2015. As a junior, she made 30 appearances with 27 starts and 21 complete games, including seven shutouts (six solo and one combined). She notched 15 wins on the season, the most for Southern Miss since Samantha Davis recorded 15 Ws in 2008. Sowders began her collegiate career at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette where she played in 2011 and 2012. At La-Lafayette she helped the team to NCAA Regional Appearances in 2011 and 2012, with a 2012 NCAA Super Regional Appearance in 2012. She was also part of the Sunbelt Conference Championships teams in 2011 and 2012. At Southern Miss, she was named the 2015 Senior Female Outstanding Scholar Athlete and the 2015 Overall Outstanding Scholar Athlete. Sowders graduated from Southern Miss with a bachelor’s degree in communication studies, and is currently receiving her master’s degree in sports management from Southern Miss.
SECOND SEASON AT GEORGIA TECH
Carlos is starting his second year at Georgia Tech as a graduate athletic trainer for the softball team while completing his masters in sports medicine at Georgia State University. Prior to Georgia Tech, Bustamante worked as a student athletic trainer for the University of Wisconsin-Madison Sports Medicine department, including working with the football team, men’s and women’s basketball team,and track and field team. A native of Los Angeles, Calif., Bustamante graduated from UW-Madison with a bachelors degree in athletic training in 2014.
SAM TURNER STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING COACH
SECOND SEASON AT GEORGIA TECH
Sam Turner is starting her second year at Georgia Tech, overseeing softball and men’s and women’s swimming and diving. Prior to Georgia Tech, Turner was a graduate assistant at Stanford University overseeing the men’s swimming and women’s water polo program. Turner also completed internships with the National Strength and Conditioning Association and Athletes’ Performance, as well as assisting with USA Hockey women’s development camps. Turner graduated from the University of North Dakota with a degree in exercise science and completed her master’s degree in exercise physiology from San Jose State University. Turner is a NSCA Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialists (CSCS).
LAUREN RUPERT COMMUNICATIONS AND PR FIFTH SEASON AT GEORGIA TECH
Lauren Rupert is an Assistant Director of Athletic Communications and Public Relations at Georgia Tech, and is the primary contact for softball and volleyball. In December 2016, she completed her MBA at Georgia State University. Prior to joining the Yellow Jacket staff in July 2012, Rupert was an athletic communications assistant for UAB in 2011-12. She worked with the women’s soccer, softball, cross country and track and field programs, while serving as a secondary contact for the Blazers’ men’s basketball team. Rupert is a Pittsburgh native and graduated from the University of Pittsburgh in April 2011. She interned for two years in the Pitt Athletic Media Relations office during undergrad, and completed internships with the Pittsburgh Pirates and Pittsburgh Penguins. She is a member of the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).
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