West Texas A&M University Athletics

2014: To say that Rita Hokianga had an immediate impact on the 2014 version of the Lady Buffs would be an understatement, the Eastern Arizona JC transfer led WT to an overall record of 60-7 and the program’s first ever NCAA DII National Championship as she went 29-3 in the circle with a 2.11 ERA to go along with 21 complete games in 39 appearances with 33 starts. Hokianga registered eight shutouts with two saves in her 212.1 innings of work, giving up 151 hits while striking out an incredible 283 batters for an opponent batting average of .195. The Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand native was the Most Valuable Player of the 2014 NCAA Division II World Series as she went a perfect 4-0 with a 1.09 ERA, she registered three complete games and struck out 21 opponents in her 25.2 innings of work. Hokianga was named the Lone Star Conference Newcomer and Pitcher of the Year while also picking up 1^st Team All-LSC honors, the junior left hander was named the Daktronics South Central Region Pitcher of the Year while being honored as an All-American by Daktronics (3^rd Team) and the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (1^st Team).

Previous School: Hokianga came to Canyon in the fall of 2014 following a strong two year career at Eastern Arizona JC (Arizona) where she pitched for the Gila Monsters under the guidance of head coach Kate McCluskey. Hokianga went 23-8 with a 2.11 ERA in the circle to lead Eastern Arizona to a 41-17 record and a third place finish in the Arizona Community College Athletic Conference.  She led the ACCAC and was seventh in the nation with 252 strikeouts (8.05/game) in 219 innings, she also led the ACCAC and was second in the nation with six saves. As a freshman, she posted a 22-6 record with a 1.40 ERA, registering 203 strikeouts (7.91/game) in 180 innings of work. Hokianga, the captain of the 2011 U19 New Zealand National team, was a two-time NFCA All-West Region selection at Eastern Arizona.

High School: Hokianga graduated from Hukarere Girls College in Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand.

Major: Hokianga is majoring in General Education with a Business emphasis at West Texas A&M.
 

Career Accolades
2014 NCAA Division II College World Series Most Valuable Player
2014 NCAA Division II College World Series All-Tournament Team
2014 National Fastpitch Coaches Association 1^st Team All-American
2014 National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-South Central Region
2014 Daktronics 3^rd Team All-American
2014 Daktronics South Central Region Pitcher of the Year
2014 Daktronics All-South Central Region 1^st Team
2014 Lone Star Conference Pitcher of the Year
2014 Lone Star Conference Newcomer of the Year
2014 1^st Team All-Lone Star Conference
2014 Lone Star Conference Championships All-Tournament Team