Emilee Dueringer prides herself on leadership and being a positive role model inside the dugout for the Rochelle varsity softball team. When Dueringer completes her career with the Lady Hubs, the senior will be continuing her softball career at Kishwaukee College next year while studying radiology.

“I’m excited to play at a higher level and meet some new people,” Dueringer said. “I felt that I would be more comfortable playing with people I’m more familiar with. It would be hard for me to leave my family, and I feel like I’m at home already… I want to pursue radiology because I’m really interested in the field. I’ve taken some anatomy classes as well and I feel that radiology is for me.”

Dueringer has spent three seasons as the starting first baseman for the Rochelle varsity softball team, helping lead the Lady Hubs to a road victory against DeKalb in 2018 for what was Rochelle’s first Northern Illinois Big 12 Conference win in five years. Dueringer and the Lady Hubs won five games in 2018, their most in three seasons, and the girls won a regional game for the first time in three years as well.

“As a captain, I feel like I’m always positive and I feel like I can carry that over,” Dueringer said. “The coaches here have definitely helped a lot. They’re tough on us but they made the team feel like a family. Having that aspect really helps because it helps us become closer as teammates, and I feel like I have the qualities of being a good teammate.”

Dueringer also played forward with the Rochelle girls basketball program for four years, spending her junior and senior seasons on the varsity team. Dueringer is the third Rochelle softball player to sign with Kishwaukee College in two years, joining former Lady Hub standouts Faith Roush and Jessie Meyers.

“Emilee works very hard to get better,” Rochelle head coach Lindsay Suess said. “Her bat has improved and we also look for Emilee to be one of our leaders. She has been a great asset to our team.”