LOUISVILLE, KY.—Central College softball catcher Rylee Dunkin (junior, Hamilton, Twin Cedars HS) was selected as a recipient of the 2026 NCAA Division III Rawlings Gold Glove Award ®, presented by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association, on Thursday afternoon.
           
Only nine players, one for each position, were honored by the NFCA. Dunkin is the only junior on the list, joined by eight seniors.
           
Recipients of the Rawlings Gold Glove Awards, presented by the NFCA, were selected by the 10 regional representatives of the NFCA's NCAA Division III All-America Committee, following regional voting to identify the finalists at each position. The group utilized fielding statistics and school-submitted video to closely examine finalists and select the winners at every defensive position. 
           
Dunkin finished the season with a fielding percentage of .995, making just one error on 208 chances. She registered 177 putouts and made 30 assists. She also threw out 12 runners on 51 attempted steals.
           
Dunkin was also a second team all-region and first team all-conference honoree.
           
Rawlings has sponsored the Gold Glove Awards since 2023. Dunkin is Central's first honoree.