DAHLONEGA – No. 11 University of North Georgia (UNG) softball freshman catcher Carleigh Knowles has been named a 2025 National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Division II First Team All-American as announced by the association at the NCAA Division II National Championship Banquet Wednesday evening.

Knowles becomes the first All-American under the tutelage of head coach Brooke O'Hair and the 38th in UNG program history. She has recorded one of the best seasons in program history in her first year in Dahlonega. 

Holding the First Team All-American catcher's spot, Knowles was subsequently named the Diamond Sports/NFCA DII Catcher of the Year. She is the first player in program history to win the award.

Knowles was also the only representative of the Peach Belt Conference on the all-america teams and one of nine players selected from the Southeast Region, only three of which were first-team recipients.

She has already garnered PBC Freshman of the Year and First Team All-Conference acclaim along with First Team All-Region accolades from the NFCA and Division 2 Conference Commissioners Association (D2CCA). 

Batting .393 with a single-season program record 21 home runs in 2025, Knowles has propelled UNG to the 2025 NCAA Division II Softball Championship in Chattenooga, Tenn. after securing their eighth South Region Championship in program history. 

The rookie has totaled 68 RBIs to go along with an .822 slugging percentage, a .452 on-base percentage and 13 stolen bases. She is currently tied for second in the nation in home runs, one shy of the top spot. Knowles is also fourth nationally in total bases, tied for sixth in RBIs and 11th in slugging, making her the only player in the country to rank in the top 15 in each of those categories.

She's been a stellar defender too, making just one miscue in 340 attempts while throwing out 10 attempted base stealers.

Knowles and the Nighthawks will take the field at Frost Stadium in Chattanooga, Tenn. for the opening round of the DII Softball Championship Thursday, May 22 at 1:30 p.m. UNG will face No. 20 Saginaw Valley State who the Nighthawks swept in a doubleheader at home back in February.