It has been four years since a senior on the softball team at Luther College has made it to commencement. The four seniors on this years squad will be missing graduation ceremonies when the Norse take part in the NCAA division three championship tournament in Eau Claire, Wisconsin beginning Friday.

The Norse advanced by rolling through a regional in Whitewater, Wisconsin last weekend. Luther College coach Renae Hartl says they had a great trip and thought the opener against Carthage was going to be one of their toughest games and it was. She says her team is trying to mix in practice with final exams.

Hartl says the seniors on the team have been to the national championship every year during their Luther career. She says there’s not a lot of players who can say they have been a part of four trophy teams and this year they want to bring home a bigger trophy.

Luther opens the eight-team double elimination tournament on Friday with a first round game against Anderson of Indiana.