2016 Softball Roster
Nicole Tobon
- Height:
- 5-7
- Class:
- Senior
- Hometown:
- Bloomington, Minn.
- High School:
- Bloomington Jefferson
Junior - 2015
- Appeared in 10 games as a junior, making four starts at catcher.
- Hit .273 (3-for-11) with a double, a walk, three runs and four RBIs on the season.
- Threw out one of nine runners (.111) who attempted to steal off of her.
- Went 2-for-3 with a double, two runs and three RBIs, all career highs, in her start against Coppin State.
- Threw out a UCLA runner on March 7 for her first career caught stealing.
- Caught the final two innings against No. 15 Minnesota (3/20), and had an RBI.
- Started behind the plate in game two at Maryland (4/11), drawing her first walk of the season.
- Started the Wisconsin finale at catcher, and singled and scored in her only plate appearances.
Sophomore - 2014
- Academic All-Big Ten
- Made three appearances on the season as a pinch hitter.
- Went 0-for-2 with a walk at the plate.
- Worked consistently with the Illini pitching staff as a bullpen catcher.
- Walked as a pinch hitter against Binghamton in her first plate appearance of the season.
- Pinch hit against Western Michigan and No. 15 Minnesota.
Freshman - 2013
- Appeared in 17 games for the Illini, primarily as a pinch hitter, making five starts as the designated player.
- Tallied three hits, four walks and an RBI in 20 at-bats for a .320 on base percentage.
- Walked to load the bases against No. 1 Alabama, which eventually led to a run.
- Had a pinch-hit RBI single against Providence.
- Went 1-for-2 in her start at DP against Western Michigan.
- Walked to load the bases as a pinch hitter in the sixth inning against Northwestern on Apr. 7.
- Tabbed one of Illinois' two hits in her start against Eastern Illinois.
High School
- 2011 Minnesota AAA Batting Champion and Top Hitter.
- Helped lead Bloomington Jefferson to the Minnesota AAA Consolation State Tournament Championship in 2011.
- Named all-state, all-metro, all-section and all-conference during the 2011 season.
- Was integral in Bloomington Jefferson's 2011 section championship - the first in school history.
- Named the Varsity Offensive MVP while taking home the Varsity Jaguar Award in 2011.
- 2010 All-Conference.
- 2010 Varsity MVP.
- 2009 Varsity Defensive MVP.
Personal
- Daughter of Carlos Tobon.
- Has two brothers, Oscar and Daniel.
- Father played professional soccer in Columbia.
- National Honor Society Member.
- Involved in SAAC and SALSC at Illinois.
- Majoring in Political Science.
Getting to Know Nicole
Favorite Food: Chipotle
Favorite Pro Team: Minnesota Twins
Favorite Athlete: Chase Utley
Favorite Band: Lady Antebellum
Favorite Quote: "There's no crying in baseball!" Tom Hanks - A League of Their Own
Favorite Pregame Meal: Anything my dad makes for me! I always have to eat right before we play.
Dream Job: Unrealistically - A brain surgeon. Realistically - An international business woman.
Fun Fact: I'm bilingual. I can speak Spanish.
Weirdest Quirk: My laugh
Famous person you admire and why: I admire Lionel Messi, because he's the best soccer player in the world.
Favorite Class You've Taken: Economy
Who most influenced your athletic career? My dad was the most influential person in helping me play Division I softball because he would always practice with me and help me with my swing. Love you dad!
