Baltimore, Md. – On Friday, March 20^th, the Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC), with unanimous support from its Board of Directors, has announced the suspension of all athletic activity, including contests and championships, for the remainder of the 2020 spring semester.
           
With the devastating news of the cancellation of the spring season, NDMU Athletics introduces our new Senior Spotlight Feature. Throughout the remainder of the spring, we will be highlighting our senior student-athletes, and bringing their amazing accomplishments to light. First, we spotlight Isa Carunungan, a softball student-athlete majoring in psychology and minoring in music.

A two-year softball captain, Carunungan has had an impressive career at Notre Dame so far. She was a three-year starter for the Gators, starting in 72 games. Carunungan was a dominant force for the Gators offence, while leading the outfield in centerfield, and seeing some time pitching. In her three years, Carunungan has maintained an impressive .605 slugging percentage, a career batting average of .430, and sits at 96 career hits. In her career, she also earned several Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) honors, including CSAC All-Academic. In 2017 and 2018, she was named to the CSAC Honorable Mention Team and last season, was named Second Team All-CSAC.

Carunungan has left her mark in the NDMU record books, notably leaving her name over 27 times, ranging across 25 different categories, such as hitting, and pitching. Most impressively, she holds the 2017 record for single-season batting average at .494. She also holds second place in career record for batting average, at .430. 

Off the field, Carunungan has led a busy life. She is a part of the NDMU Concert Choir, Music Ministry, and recently received the departmental award for the Music Department. In addition, she has been a member of Omega Phi Alpha, a national service sorority, and currently serves as the Service Director. Working for NDMU's Admissions Department, she has severed as a Student Ambassador, giving tours and welcoming future students to campus. In addition to her busy extracurricular activities, Carunungan completed her practicums at both Catholic Charities and Kennedy Krieger Neurobehavioral Outpatient Unit. Carunungan has maintained all of these responsibilities while also being a part-time employee at Kennedy Krieger Institute.

Following graduation, Carunungan plans to attend graduate school to pursue a career in the mental health field, helping high-risk families and children. The final goal is to become Dr. Carunungan. 
 
What is your favorite memory at NDMU?
My favorite memory at NDMU would be the last Christmas Dinner I attended. My classmate and I dressed up in matching velour Santa track suits and had dinner with our favorite professors. I led the carols for the final time with some members from concert choir and sung at the top of my lungs during the 12 Days of Christmas.
 
What was the best part about being a student-athlete?
The best part about being a student-athlete is the moment you step onto campus, you have a family here to support you. Of course, the NDMU community is already supportive, but your team and the Athletics Department is with you every step of your college career.  Whether it's working out, eating, studying, or just hanging out, I always have someone.
 
What is your favorite memory with your team?
I have so many favorite memories with my team. Every game or practice we have together has its own memory. From the silly cheers we did in the dugout to $5 Fridays at Smoothie King. My favorite memory would be the bus ride back from Keystone last season. On our four-hour bus trip, instead of sleeping, we did karaoke the entire ride.  One person wore headphone, while the team picked the song for them to sing.  Since they couldn't hear themselves, it was hilarious to see everyone let go and have a great time. I don't think I've ever laughed so hard in my life.
 
What is one lesson or take away you have from being a student-athlete at NDMU?
My biggest takeaway from being a student-athlete at NDMU was reminder of why I started playing softball in the first place. I always took softball so seriously and I associated all of my self-worth to how I performed on the field. Throughout the years playing at NDMU, I was constantly reminded that I was more than a student-athlete. I was also reminded of all of the love, fun, and passion that goes into being a softball player, which made the game worth playing. I made lifelong friends and had the most amazing support with athletics. I found myself growing so much more as a person, more than I ever anticipated.
 
How has your life changed since attending NDMU?
It's difficult to summarize how my four-years at NDMU has changed my life.  I don't know if this happens with every college student, but NDMU made me redefine what it meant to be fearless. There were so many times in the past that I didn't think I could do something, but being here allowed me to gain so much more confidence that I could do absolutely anything I set my mind to. There were no limits when it came to pursuing my dreams or being whoever I wanted to be, and I never would have learned that if I hadn't become a Notre Dame Woman.


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