LakeNET - Michelle Venturella

Softball player, Gold Medal in the 2000 Summer Olympics. Throughout her career with USA Softball, she earned four gold medals, including one at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games. She also helped the United States to Gold at the 1998 World Championships and was a member of the first-ever United States Olympic Softball Team in 1996. Venturella came to Iowa after working as a private softball instructor in Indianapolis at Softball Ltd. She also worked for Louisville Slugger as a technical representative, designer and motivational speaker. Prior to her work with Lousiville Slugger, Venturella served as an assistant coach at Northern Illinois University during the 1996-97 season. She helped the Huskies to a runner-up finish in the Mid-Continent Conference in 1997. A 1996 graduate from Indiana University, Venturella is no stranger to Big Ten softball. She was a two-time NFCA All-American while with the Hoosiers and a recipient of the 1995 Big Ten Medal of Honor. Her junior year, Venturella was a unanimous selection as Big Ten Player of the Year. She still ranks in the top five of eight offensive categories at Indiana and is still its all-time leader in RBI and walks.