OCALA-- College of Central Florida softball player Mariah Wise was named a 2016 NFCA Golden Shoe Award winner for NJCAA Div. I this past week by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association. The award is presented annually to the most outstanding base stealer from a NFCA member institution in each of the following divisions: NCAA (Div. I, II, III), NAIA, NJCAA (Div. I, II, III), Cal JC, NWAC and high school. 

Wise, a University of Toledo signee, led the FCSAA and No. 2 in the NJCAA for stolen bases (67), only being thrown out on one attempt the entire season. She batted .471 (T-3 in FCSAA) on the year with a .538 on-base percentage, 10 triples and 91 runs scored, good for No. 1 in the state and top five in NJCAA. The NFCA All-American stole a season-high four bases against Jackson College on March 1, culminating to her FCSAA Player of the Week honor. During the voting period, Wise went 15-for-25 with 16 runs scored and 14 stolen bases in eight games.

On the year, Wise helped lead the Patriots to its second-consecutive Mid-Florida Conference title, a NJCAA No. 1 ranking for six consecutive weeks, and first place in FCSAA for 10 consecutive weeks. She was named to NFCA First Team All-Region, FCSAA First Team All-State and Mid-Florida Conference First Team for her stellar sophomore performance. 

Along with Wise, the following athletes received the prestigious Golden Shoe Award for their respective divisions: 

NCAA Division I: Katie Lacour – Senior - Southeastern Louisiana University 

NCAA Division II: Kassidy Tally – Senior - Delta State University 

NCAA Division III: Courtney Bogan – Senior - Virginia Wesleyan College

NAIA: Kayleen Smith – Junior - Southern Oregon University

NJCAA Division II: Kendall Cornick – Freshman - North Iowa Area CC

NJCAA Division III: Marjorie Sloan – Freshman - College of DuPage

Cal JC: Kayla Sok – Freshman - Mt. San Antonio College

NWAC: Nicole Bolasky – Sophomore - Lower Columbia College

High School: Nicky Dawson – Senior - Parkview Baptist High School (La.)