Senior Spotlight: Naomi Kubo

With the cancellation of the remainder of the spring season and the winter championships, at least one Wells College senior spring student-athlete will be highlighted each weekend. Today's featured student-athlete is senior Naomi Kubo from the softball team.

Naomi is a health sciences major from Sacramento, Calif., that primarily focused on catching and infield play this past season although her versatility in years past was recognized by the NEAC as an all-conference utility player.

First-year Wells head softball coach and former assistant coach Taylor Policay had the following to say about Naomi, "Naomi led the team from the very beginning of her freshman year. She is a very competitive athlete and always pushed her teammates to do better. She was confident at the plate and very versatile in the field with her ability to play every position. It was a pleasure to coach such an athlete, she leaves some very big shoes to fill."

Naomi is a two-time all-conference first team selection. In her freshman campaign, she was selected as a first-team utility player after spending time pitching, catching and at third base. She struck out 50 batters that season while batting .385 with an on-base percentage at .482 and a slugging percentage at .681 while recording double-digit stolen bases. In her sophomore season, she led the conference in home runs and registered a .568 batting average a .688 on-base percentage and 1.045 slugging percentage, while retiring 49 batters from the circle with a 3.99 earned-run average to earn back-to-back all-conference first-team selections.

Over her career at Wells as a batter, she had just over 200 plate appearances in 79 games. More than 40 percent of all of Naomi's career hits went for extra bases with 11 home runs, 21 doubles and four triples from 89 career hits. Naomi scored 74 runs and batted-in 46 runners with an overall batting average of .430, an on-base percentage of .558 and an overall slugging percentage at .729.

Away from the plate, she stole 14 bases and started 33 games from the circle with eight victories during her first three seasons and had an overall earned-run average of 5.79 with 140 strikeouts. Her fielding percentage over three-plus seasons was .935 with 128 putouts and 116 assists.

During the shortened 2020 season, Naomi averaged nearly a hit in every other at-bat. In 15 plate appearances, she recorded seven hits that included a pair of doubles at a .467 batting average, .579 on-base percentage and .600 slugging percentage while scoring five runs and batting-in seven runners. In the field, she recorded 21 putouts with four assists and no errors.

Why did you choose Wells College?

I chose Wells College because I instantly fell in love with the campus on my first visit. I love the atmosphere of Wells, I love the people at Wells, and I love that we got to be right on the lake.

What is your favorite memory at Wells College as a student-athlete?

This is a hard question because I have a lot of great memories. My family is my rock, and they've always supported me and my dream to play softball. Even though my family lives in California, my grandparents and my brother came out to visit one a year to watch me play. To have them there, even though it's only a few games, means the world to me. My sophomore year, my grandparents and my little brother visited and I hit three home runs in two games. The next weekend, my mother took a red-eye and surprised me at one of my away games. My entire team knew except for me. My first at-bat, I hit a home run. To be able to do that while my family was there and make them proud, is probably my favorite memory.

What are your plans after Wells College?

My plans after Wells are to go to nursing school, and then eventually get my masters in nursing.

What advice would you give to the next person wearing your number?

My advice would be to wear that No. 10 with pride, and to play every game like it could be your last because unexpected things happen, and you never want to have regrets.

If you had a favorite class during your time at Wells College, what was it and why was it your favorite?

My favorite class at Wells would definitely have to be any class that was taught by Dr. Burwell. She is one of the best professors I've ever had the privilege of taking a class with, and she will do everything in her power to help her students succeed. We need more professors like her.

What will you miss the most about being a student-athlete at Wells College?

I will definitely miss the bonds that I have created not only with my teammates, but with people on other teams. Our athletics are very supporting of each other, and I've met some pretty amazing people at Wells.