Mercyhurst University Athletics

Julie Kemling was a multi-sport athlete at Northwestern High School in Albion. Her softball team won the District 10 championship two years in a row and she herself participated in the Keystone State Games. Although she played both softball and tennis at Mercyhurst College, it was in softball where she would leave an indelible mark. As a freshman in 1987, Kemling batted .523 with three homers and 24 runs-batted-in. She made only four errors at third base. The Lady Lakers went 14-6. In 1988, she hit .434 with six homers and 25 RBIs and made only four errors at third while compiling a fielding percentage of .974. The team finished 18-13. Kemling was named to the Division II Regional All-American team as a First Team selection. She was also named to the GTE Academic All-American team as a Third Team choice.

In December of 1988, Kemling suffered a serious knee injury, one that would cause her to miss the entire 1989 season. She returned in 1990 to bat .456 as the Lady Lakers compiled a 23-8 mark. With one year of eligibility remaining, Kemling ended her career with a flourish, hitting .542 in 1991 which was third in the nation in Division II. The Lady Lakers started slowly that season, but finished with a 15-12 record. She graduated in 1990 with a 3.64 QPA in Criminal Justice/Political Science & Security Loss Prevention. She was honored as the top female student-athlete of her senior class. Kemling later achieved a QPA of 3.41 in 1992 while getting a Master's in Administration of Justice from Mercyhurst. Kemling joined the Erie Police Department in December of 1993. Kemling is the first inductee from softball.