Erin Stroup ’16 is the daughter of Thad ’89 and Rebecca Stroup. A two-sport athlete, Erin received six varsity letters while in high school: four in softball and two in basketball.A productive member of the varsity basketball team as a junior, Erin averaged 2.42 points per game and had 48 rebounds, 18 assists and 17 steals on the 15-17 team. As a senior and captain, Erin stepped up her game and became one of the key players on the team. Overall, Erin averaged 8.27 points and had 28 three-pointers, 88 rebounds, 42 assists and 57 steals in the 30 games she played. At the season banquet, it was announced Erin was a co-MVP of the team with Jailyn Borum ’16. Erin also won the Karna Abraham Offensive Award, the award for most three-point shots made and Academic All-Conference honors.While she was an effective basketball player, it was on the softball diamond where Erin really shined. Erin got a brief taste of the IHSA State Tournament while she was a freshman as a utility player and a pinch runner while the team went on to get fourth place in the state. The next year Erin was the starting first baseman on the team as it looked to make another trip to East Peoria. The softball team was successful in their mission of returning to the state tournament. After losing to Manteno in the state semi-finals, the girls rebounded by beating St. Ignatius to place third in class 3A. On the whole, Erin had a batting average of .398 and had nine doubles, five triples and two home runs and fielded admirably at first base. Erin also did well during the Golden Warriors’ postseason run, batting .368 in seven playoff games. Because of her produc-tiveness on the field, Erin received Northern Illinois Big XII All-Conference First Team honors and was selected to the All-State Second Team.For her junior year, Erin became a co-captain and moved to the position of shortstop, the leader of the infield position, and batted leadoff, emphasizing her leadership on the softball team. Overall, Erin had a productive season with many great at-bats, including one where she hit a walk-off home run against Geneseo in the bottom of the seventh inning. Statistically, Erin batted .447 on the season and had 55 hits, including 10 doubles, two triples and five home runs. At the end of the year Erin received Offensive, Defensive and Overall Most Valuable Player awards and Academic All-Conference honors. Furthermore, Erin was again selected to the All-Conference First Team and chosen as a co-MVP of the NIB-XII West division with teammate Alexis Staples ’17. Erin also was named to the All-State Second Team again.Erin continued to demonstrate her prowess on the softball diamond her senior year. Batting leadoff again, Erin put on one of the greatest offensive seasons in Sterling High School softball history. Erin, with an overall batting average of .514, broke the Sterling softball records for hits (74), RBIs (53) and home runs (15). The softball team also broke the record with most wins in a season with 34 before falling to Carmel Catholic in the super-sectional game. Erin was selected as the Offensive and Overall MVP again and was named to the All-Conference First Team while receiving the NIB-XII West MVP for the season. To round out her spectacular season, Erin was selected to the All-State First Team at the end of the season.At the end of her senior year, Sauk Valley Media named Erin the softball player of the year.Erin leaves the softball program ranked second all-time in both total career hits (183) and career home runs (22).Outside of athletics, Erin was a member of Freshman Mentor Program and Rotary Club and acted as the secretary for the student council. Erin was also involved in Service Learning as a teacher’s assistant at Lincoln Elementary and SHS. She volunteered at Self Help, PADS Homeless Shelter and the Sterling Police Department Peer Jury. Erin also volunteered at a Bible school, the Salvation Army, food drives, as well as assisting with youth softball and basketball. For hobbies, Erin likes to run, watch/attend sporting events and spend time with friends and family.