Hall of Fame
Patty (Grudzinski) Gergics, a softball All-American, has earned a spot in the Wayne State University Athletic Hall of Fame.
The 1991 Armada High School graduate was a four-year starting shortstop/outfielder for the Tartars (1992-95). In her rookie season, she was selected Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Freshman of the Year after leading the nation (NCAA Division II) in hits with 95.
In addition to her school record-setting .495 batting average and 45 runs scored, Grudzinski set four other hitting and fielding records. She had 30 games with two hits or more, 14 games with three hits or more, and two four-hit contests.
The following season, she led the team with 77 hits and a .387 batting average to earn All-GLIAC honors.
During her junior campaign of 1994, she led the squad in hits (70), doubles (13), total bases (88), batting average (.393) and sacrifices (18). She was selected to the NCAA Division II All-American Second Team.
As a senior in 1995, Grudzinksi led the Tartars to their fourth consecutive regular-season GLIAC title with a 16-5 mark and third straight conference tournament championship. She batted a team-high .414 and set a school-record with 20 stolen bases.
Wayne State competed in the NCAA tournament in three of her four seasons and compiled an overall record of 153-67 during her playing career.
Grudzinski currently ranks first on the Wayne State charts in runs scored (164), hits (309), batting average (.423), on-base percentage (.453) and stolen bases(39). Her 309 career hits rank 14th in NCAA Division II history.
She is also ranked in the top 10 all-time at WSU in at bats (731, 2nd), total bases (363, 3rd), doubles (36, t-5th), games played (219, 6th), slugging percentage (.497, 6th) and sacrifices (39, 8th). In addition, her 345 fielding assists is third on the WSU all-time lists.
Grudzinski graduated from Wayne State in 1999 with a degree in pharmacy and is currently a pharmacist.
She presently resides in Sterling Heights with her husband Steve and son Trevor.
