Hall of Fame
Michaelene (Bachleda) Ruhl played on the Wayne State University softball team from 1987 through 1990. She was the program's first multi-year All-American, earning the honor her final three seasons.
Under coach Gary Bryce, Ruhl and the Warriors compiled a 126-87 overall record and a 39-19 conference mark. The Warriors three-peated as the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference regular-season and tournament champions 1988, 1989, and 1990 as Ruhl gained All-GLIAC honors all three seasons.
WSU advanced to the NCAA tournament two times while Ruhl played, finishing fourth in the Mid-Atlantic Regional in 1988 and fourth in the South Quarterfinals in 1990.
While at Wayne State, Ruhl set six different records and is currently ranked among the best hitters in the history of the program. The first baseman/outfielder is still ranked on the WSU all-time lists in career triples (first with 15), in hits (second with 278) and in batting average (second at .406).
In 1992, Ruhl earned her degree in public relations. She could not stay away from softball as she helped coach the Divine Child High School team to the 1998 state finals.
On her experience at WSU, Ruhl was ecstatic, "It was so fun ... I wouldn't have ever changed it for the world. The whole four years was one of the best experiences ever."
Ruhl is married to former WSU volleyball coach Ed Ruhl and lives in Farmington Hills, Michigan, with their two children, Joshua (7) and Jordan (2).
