This week, the NJCAA announced its 2025 Softball All-America selections, and Northwest Florida State was once again well represented. Cailyn Heyl and Sister Arnold earned First Team All-America honors for the second consecutive year, while Lulu Luedtke earned a spot on the Second Team.
Headlining the honors, Cailyn Heyl was named the 2025 NJCAA National Pitcher of the Year—the first player in program history to receive the prestigious award. Heyl also joins women’s basketball standout Sakima Walker (2023) as the only Raiders to ever earn a National Player of the Year honor.
“I’m ecstatic for Cailyn to receive this incredible and well-deserved honor,” said NWF State Athletic Director Ramsey Ross. “Her performance throughout the season—and especially in the World Series—solidified her legacy as one of the all-time greats, not just in our program, but across junior college softball.”
Heyl delivered one of the most dominant seasons in NJCAA history, going 35-2 with a 0.94 ERA (second-best in the country and a school record) and 173 strikeouts. She was named Panhandle Conference Pitcher of the Year and an All-FCSAA First Team selection. On March 7, she struck out 14 batters in a single game, a season-high.
“Cailyn was the heart and soul of this team,” said Head Coach Andy Lee. “Her relentless work ethic, leadership, and drive elevated everyone around her.”
A returner from last year’s team that finished fourth at the NJCAA World Series, Heyl led the 2025 squad to the program’s first National Championship. She threw every inning of the tournament, totaling 35.0 innings, 25 strikeouts, and only 8 earned runs. In the title game, she went the distance against Florida Southwestern, allowing just one earned run and striking out seven to earn both Most Outstanding Pitcher and World Series MVP honors.
Heyl wraps up her Raider career with a 72-4 record, 419.0 innings pitched, 304 strikeouts, and a 1.29 ERA—setting the school record for career wins. She’ll continue her softball journey at the University of South Alabama.
“Her legacy is unmatched in this program,” added Coach Lee. “We’ll do everything we can to carry that torch forward.”
Sister Arnold also cemented herself as one of the best hitters in program history. She and Heyl are now the only Raiders ever to earn multiple First Team All-America honors. Arnold started all 128 games over her two-year career, hitting .408 with 152 hits, 34 home runs, and 140 RBIs—all school records.
In 2025, she batted .419 with 70 hits, 14 home runs, 20 doubles, 59 RBIs, and 47 walks. She was named FCSAA Player of the Year, Panhandle Conference Player of the Year for the second time, and earned a spot on the NFCA First Team All-America list.
Arnold was instrumental in the team’s championship run, driving in seven runs during the World Series and earning the Most Outstanding Hitter Award.
Lulu Luedtke made an instant impact in her lone season as a Raider. The Milton, Fla. native hit .405 with 68 hits, 14 home runs, 13 doubles, and 45 walks. She earned All-Panhandle and All-FCSAA First Team recognition, capping off a stellar debut season.
Luedke becomes just the ninth player in program history, and fourth in the last two seasons, to earn All-American honors. She joins an exclusive club, which includes Martina Ganger (2000), Nikki Ried (2002), Samantha Shoenwald (2009), Hannah Sparks (2016), Savanah McHellon (2016), Ashlyn Shirah (2024), Cailyn Heyl (2024, 2025) and Sister Arnold (2024, 2025).
