Texas Woman's University Athletics

Shortstop Nickie Engelbrecht is one of the most highly decorated softball players in TWU history.

Engelbrecht, a native of Alberton, South Africa, came to TWU in the fall of 1996 after an outstanding career on the South African National Team.

Over the course of her four seasons from 1998-01 in a Pioneer uniform, Engelbrecht earned countless athletics and academic awards and honors. She was a two-time NFCA/Louisville Slugger All-America third team selection in 1999 and 2001, and a three-time member of the NFCA/Division II All-South Central Region Team in 1998, 2000 and 2001. She was picked for All-Lone Star Conference South Division honors all four seasons. In 2000, she played her way onto the LSC All-Tournament Team. In 2001, she was selected as the LSC South Division Most Valuable Player.

She holds the TWU career record for doubles with 59. She also holds the Pioneer career mark for the most assists, 405.

In 1999, 2000 and 2001, Engelbrecht was recognized as an LSC South Division All-Academic selection as well as placed on the CoSIDA Academic All-District VI team. In 2001, she grabbed a spot on the CoSIDA Academic All-America second team. In 1998 and 1999, the NFCA tabbed her as an All-America Scholar Athlete.

Engelbrecht also took home two honors presented by TWU Athletics - the 1999-00 Kitty Magee Award for dedication and the 2000-01 President’s Award, the highest recognition given by the department to a current student-athlete.

She graduated from TWU in May 2001 with her bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology. She then received an NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship which she used to continue her academic pursuits at the University of Oklahoma.

“I’m so very happy to be going into the TWU Athletics Hall of Fame,” said Engelbrecht. “I was shocked - in a good way - when I received the call notifying me of my selection. I’m also very excited to be in the same Hall of Fame class as Cathy Jacobson. We’ve been through so much together, on and off the softball field, that it is only fitting that we get to share a Hall of Fame induction.”

Engelbrecht lives in Yukon, Okla. with her husband, Brian Madden, and her son, Aiden. She is the head softball coach at Rose State College in Midwest City, Oklahoma.