Full Ride for Softball Star

Students, family, coaches and friends packed the Southern Door High School library in support of Acacia Tupa signing her letter of intent to play Division I softball at the University of Wisconsin –Green Bay next year. The ceremony included speeches from her coaches recalling her dedication to the sport and well wishing in her future career.

Tupa will enroll at UW-GB in the fall of 2015, studying social work and as a hopeful starter on the women’s softball team. After considering offers from schools throughout the country, including Oregon and Washington, Tupa decided to stay close to home, feeling her impact on the team could shine brighter than on the west coast.

The decision was gratefully received from her parents, Dave and Sharon, who have followed her around the country to softball camps each summer.

“At first I was thinking I want to go as far away as possible from home. And then after traveling to so many different places and seeing so many different colleges, I realized maybe I want to stay close to home,” said Tupa.

At these summer camps, a humble Tupa never admitted to matching the ability of some of the best softball players in the country. Her father and coaches consistently reminded her that she could compete with the best girls on the strongest programs nationwide.

Southern Door softball coach Pat Delcore echoed this support, calling her, “the best hitter I’ve seen in 18 years of coaching softball.”

Tupa, a three-time all-Packerland Conference outfielder and four-year starter for Delcore, is the first Division I player to come out of Southern Door’s softball program.

Tupa capped the ceremony with an emotionally charged speech, thanking those in support of her softball endeavors and recognizing the sacrifices made by friends and family in her pursuit. From missing prom and Fourth of July festivals to “trucking me all over the country to watch me practice and play,” Tupa understood that her family and friends played a role in her success.

As a senior, Tupa will start at centerfield for Southern Door in her last year under Delcore. All she hopes for in her final high school season is to see some pitches that she can hit.

“Last year we struggled. They liked to walk me a lot. It’s a compliment because they don’t want me to hit it, but it can be frustrating,” said Tupa.

Tupa originally worried about the fate of her softball career following the retirement of UW-GB coach Jean Rivett at the end of last season. Yet the new coaching staff retained their interest in Tupa, which inspired confidence in the centerfielder again.

The commitment involves a scholarship for a full tuition waiver and stipend based on academic and athletic performance. Her parents, both schoolteachers on the peninsula, appreciate the support from UW-Green Bay in easing the burden of achieving a college education.

Despite her ability on the field, Tupa is dedicated to pursue this education as she speaks more of social work and less of softball following college. But for the next few years, Junior Phoenix coach Chuck Verbaeten says, “UWGB, you’re getting a great one.”