Two Softball Players Receive Team USA Invites

NORMAN, Okla. - 2003 All-American Leah Gulla earned an invitation to the USA Softball Olympic Trials, while freshman Norrelle Dickson will compete with the USA Junior National Team.

The Olympic Trials are Sept. 2-7 at the ARCO Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, Calif. Gulla will be competing for a spot on the USA Softball Women's National Team that will participate in the 2004 Olympics in Athens, Greece. An initial list of 18-players will be announced on Monday, September 8th. Since the official Olympic roster consists of only 15-players, three of the 18 players selected will be named as alternates at a later date.

"In regards to Leah, it's a pay-off for all her hard work the last two years," said OU head coach Patty Gasso. "It is very well deserved. I am excited that she gets to showcase her talent on the national level. I wish they would have gotten their hands on her earlier because she is a very well-rounded athlete."

Dickson, a freshman from Orange, Calif. who recently arrived on campus, will play in the 2003 ISF Women's World Championships, Oct. 12-20 in Nanjing, China. This marks the second straight year the Elodema High School product has been a member of the junior national team. Dickson, a third baseman, earned a spot on the USA roster at a three day tryout camp held Aug. 12-14 in Salem, Ore.

"Norrelle is an athlete that is always involved," said Gasso. "When the game is on the line, she always has a hand in producing a good outcome, whether it be on offense or defense. We are very excited about her future at OU and with Team USA."

Below are Dickson's prep accomplishments:

Norrelle Dickson - Orange, Calif.
Named to the US Women's National Team in 2002 ... Three letters in softball at Elmodena HS ... Three-time All-Conference ... Two-time All-County MVP ... First team All-CIFSS ... 2000 Offensive Player of the Year ... Two-time team MVP ... Also lettered four times in basketball ... Three-time All-Conference ... Team MVP in 2001 and 2002 ... Team Offensive Player of the Year in 2000 ... Voted "Most Athletic Female" by class ... Also varsity cross country ... Second team All-Conference ... Has played club soccer since the age of five ... Member of the Olympic Development State Pool Program ... Played for nationally ranked CSL Futbol Club ... Recruited in two sports (softball and basketball) ... Chose Oklahoma over Arizona, Illinois, Iowa, Long Beach State, UCLA, CS Fullerton, Florida, North Carolina, Cal-Santa Barbara ... Scholar athlete ... National Honor Society ... Top 50 Freshman ... Daughter of Norval and Terry Dickson.

For an in depth look at the USA teams visit http://www.softball.org/.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

Two Softball Players Receive Team USA Invites

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