June 13, 2021

NORMAN – Oklahoma softball senior Jocelyn Alo has been named the Jim Thorpe Oklahoma Athlete of the Year, the Oklahoma District of the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) announced Saturday. 

The award was determined by the Oklahoma AAU executive committee and considered nominations of amateur athletes with Oklahoma ties in any sport. Previous Sooners to win the award include Oklahoma football players Sam Bradford, Baker Mayfield, Gerald McCoy and Jason White. Most recently, Oklahoma men’s basketball player Brady Manek won the award in 2020.

Alo, the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year, NFCA First Team All-American and member of the Women’s College World Series All-Tournament Team, paced the explosive Oklahoma offense in 2021. The Big 12 Player of the Year led the nation in home runs (34) and slugging percentage (1.109) and ranked second in RBIs (89) and third in batting average (.475).

Alo tied or set numerous records in 2021, including program records for home runs (34), batting average (.475) and total bases (203). Her four home runs in the WCWS tied a World Series record, previously only been done four times. She helped lead OU to the single-season NCAA record for home runs as the Sooners blasted 161 on the year. Alo hit the record-breaking No. 159 vs. Florida State in Game Two of the WCWS Championship Series.

Named in honor of Jim Thorpe, the award commemorates one the most accomplished and versatile athletes of modern sports. Thorpe was an Olympic Gold Medalist in both the decathlon and pentathlon. An all-around athlete, Thorpe also played football, baseball, basketball, boxing, lacrosse, swimming and hockey. From winning gold medals in the Olympics and being inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Jim Thorpe is looked at by many as one of the greatest athletes of the 20th century.

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COURTESY OKLAHOMA ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS