LAKEWOOD, CO- Pursuing a nursing degree is not easy for anyone, especially a star softball player who dedicates hours on the field. Kali Crandall, who was recently named the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Pitcher of the week for the sixth time, has overcome many challenges on and off the field.



Starting her softball career at Oklahoma Christian University, she decided to make the move to Colorado Christian University for her last year to make the most of her college years in Softball. Coach Larry Hays was a big reason why she came to play for Colorado Christian University, however, she also recognized the importance of Christian education as her faith is an important part of her life.



Crandall is appreciative of being raised in a Christian home and has been involved in her church from early on. She considers her faith and family to be the most important parts of her life. Crandall loves to be involved with her family and watches her sister play softball at Baylor in her free time.

During her sophomore year of college, Crandall was diagnosed with Crohn's disease and had to undergo major surgery, which forced her to take a break from her athletic pursuits for thirty days. Despite the challenges she faced, she remained grateful for the positive outcomes that God had brought into her life.



Faith has always been a central aspect of Crandall's life. From a young age, she desired to attend a Christian school that would hold her accountable and where she could continue to grow her faith through Bible classes and chapels. As a piece of advice to younger athletes, Crandall suggests to "choose a school that makes you a stronger Christian, because that is what matters most." During her illness, she was blessed to have a supportive church community, Christian teammates, and a Christian coach who stood by her and encouraged her during her time of need.

Kali Crandall not only pursues excellence on the softball field but also in her nursing career. Overcoming the odds as a student athlete, Crandall will soon be starting her career in the NICU, a job she always dreamed of having. This accomplishment, however, was not easy. Crandall said it was one of the toughest challenges of her life. She recalls having to "learn how to prioritize her time and balance between school and softball."



After failing the NCLEX four times, she had to fight discouragement and wondered whether she would be able to achieve her dreams. Evidently this did not stop her from continuing to pursue a career in nursing as she recently passed the NCLEX nursing exam. Crandall considers her new job to be a blessing from God as it will allow her to soon jump into life as a nurse after her softball career comes to an end.