Hall of Fame
A five-tool player who graduated with eight program records, Julie Mahre Retka is arguably the greatest leadoff hitter and middle infielder to wear a Gustavus softball jersey.
Retka burst onto the scene her first year, earning MIAC Rookie of the Year, All-Conference, and NFCA All-Midwest Region honors. Retka maintained her high level of play throughout her collegiate career, earning All-Conference and All-Region honors all four years. Playing with undeniable confidence, Retka still holds program records in career runs scored (165), career hits (223), and doubles in a single season (19). She graduated as the program record holder in career home runs, career slugging percentage, career total bases, career at-bats, and single season home runs. During the 2006 season, Retka struck out just once in 127 at-bats, which ranked third in NCAA Division III.
Retka started in all 155 games of her career, holding a .455 batting average with 111 RBIs from the leadoff spot. At second base, Retka posted a .965 fielding percentage after nearly 600 chances. She is currently one of six players in MIAC history to earn All-Conference all four years and was twice named to the MIAC Playoff All-Tournament Team. During Retka’s career, the Gusties posted an overall record of 120-35 and went 75-13 in the MIAC, while twice setting the program record for wins in a season, highlighted by a 32-2 season in 2007 that ended in the regional round of the NCAA tournament.
After graduating cum laude in 2008 with a major in nursing, Retka has served as a nurse at Abbott Northwestern Hospital in labor and delivery for the past 15 years. Retka has also been a youth softball and soccer coach in White Bear Lake, Minn. and a softball instructor at Gentry Academy. Julie and her husband John ’09 live in Lino Lakes, Minn. with their children, Harper, Kassidy, and Lincoln.
