All-Big Ten senior catcher pleased with career

Last year's lone IU softball player to make First Team All-Big Ten, senior catcher Brooke Monroe, is beginning her season with the work ethic that has gotten her recognition in her three prior seasons as a Hoosier.\nAn athlete from Morton, Ill., Monroe makes an impact both on and off the field. Wearing number 33, Monroe led the team in batting average (.338), doubles (8), hits (53), home runs (8) and runs batted in (26) last season. With her 17 home runs in her three previous seasons combined as a Hoosier, Monroe ranks fourth on the team's career home run list.\nBut her success is found in more than statistics. This year's co-captain with teammate and roommate Stormy Hanson, Monroe sets the standard on the team for work ethic and perseverance.\n"Last year Brooke worked tremendously hard to be First Team All Big Ten," head coach Diane Stephenson said. "She has the ability and work ethic to be an All-American this year."\nAll-American status, however, is not the only goal for Monroe. A sport management major, Monroe has plans for the future that include graduate school, assistant coaching, a masters degree in sports management or athletic administration and eventually a head coaching job with the sport that she loves.\nA softball player since the age of 9, Monroe led her high school to four trips to the state tournament, finishing no lower than third in each trip. After high school she decided to attend IU after a great weekend with the team and coaches.\n"I chose IU academically and athletically," said Monroe, who will try to help her team improve its 1-3-1 record this weekend in a double-header against Western Michigan. "I came here and had a great time with the team and the coaches. I just felt like it was a perfect fit."\nAlmost four full years later, Monroe is entering her final season, and she continues to praise the camaraderie with her teammates and her valuable education from IU.\n"I couldn't find a better group of girls to play with, and I couldn't have asked for a better education," Monroe said.\nOff the field, Monroe is involved with the Student Athletic Advisory Commission, which acts as a liaison between the athletic administrators and the players on the team. Two people from each team are chosen to represent the team on the board. \nOther than that, Monroe said she enjoys relaxing at teammates' houses and hanging out with her friends on the team and other athletes that she has met through her time as an athlete.\n"Brooke's more of a laid back person at home when she's not on the field," Hanson said. "But when it comes to studying and other things she has to get done, she has the same work ethic as she does on the field -- she just gets it done"