Francis Marion University junior softball pitcher Jenna Walling has been named one of 14 finalists for Conference Carolinas' prestigious Murphy Osborne Award for 2024-25, the league's Outstanding Senior Student-Athlete Award.

The winner of this year's Murphy Osborne Award will be officially announced on Thursday, April 17.

Student-athletes are nominated by their institutions based on their academic, athletic and service accomplishments. The Faculty Athletic Representatives (FARs) from all Conference Carolinas institutions submit institutional nominations and votes are cast by the FARs.

To be eligible for the award, the student-athlete must be a December or May graduating senior or a first-year graduate student completing athletic eligibility at the same institution as undergraduate matriculation. The student-athlete must be a full-time student at the time of nomination, must have been a full-time student at the member school for at least two years and must be a starter or important substitute in a conference sport.

A three-year starter on the FMU softball team, a first-team All-Conference selection in 2023, and a two-time Academic All-Conference honoree, the Johns Island, S.C., native owns a perfect 4.00 grade point average as a double major (biology and healthcare administration).

This season, she owns a 12-1 mark with a 2.06 earned run average.  She has helped the Patriots to a 37-3 record, a No.4 national ranking, and a share of the East Division championship.  For her career, she is 49-8 with a 2.95 ERA and ranks fourth in career victories and is first in career winning percentage for anyone who has thrown at least two full seasons.

The award is named for longtime educator and college and university administrator Dr. Murphy Osborne.
 

2024-25 Conference Carolinas Murphy Osborne Award Finalists
Isabella Pita, Barton
Abigail Crain, Belmont Abbey
Danea Mackey, Chowan
Chloe Cleland, Converse
Jocelyn Martin, Emmanuel
Rupal Kharb, Erskine
Jenna Walling, Francis Marion
Jessica Campbell, King
Jesper Jonsson, Lees-McRae
Ashlyn Stone, Mount Olive
Anna Grossheim, UNC Pembroke
Caroline Smith, North Greenville
Thomas Macagg, Southern Wesleyan
Liam King, Young Harris


        Jenna Walling