Aquinas College

Christy (Jaklinski) Paganelli was recruited from Wyoming Rogers High School in 1989 as a hard hitting catcher for a
young Aquinas Saints softball team. During her four years in this role, she became the backbone of the program both
offensively and defensively. In her freshman year she guided the Saints to their "first ever" appearance in the NAIA
National World Series in Florida. The squad earned this trip by winning the NAIA State Championship and the Midwest
Regional Title. She had helped put Aquinas College softball on the map. During her four years as a Saint, Christy
established herself as the team's "clean up" hitter leading Aquinas in multiple offensive categories, some of which are
still near the top in the AQ record books. A two time NAIA All-State player, her leadership, defensive abilities and team
commitment made her respected and cherished by her teammates. Christy and fellow 2012 AQ Hall of Fame inductee,
Jodi Borowicz were labeled "grace and ace" by their teammates. They competed in over 100 games as AQ teammates
forming one of the most celebrated "pitching and catching batteries" in Aquinas history. Christy's professional career
allowed her to turn an Aquinas internship with Amway into a 20 year chemist position with the Ada based company.
Christy passed away in March of 2011 after a nearly two year courageous battle with melanoma cancer. It was a battle
that exceeded the normal length by nearly one and one/half years. She and her husband Dino Paganelli ’90 are the
proud parents of three children Brady, Jake, and Katelyn. The Wyoming Rogers High School community and Christy's
Aquinas teammates established "Christy's Cause" which raises money for cancer research and the Aquinas College
Scholarship named in her honor. Softball games are played at both schools annually to raise funds for these causes.