POCATELLO, Idaho — Idaho State Athletics is proud to introduce Hailey Breakwell as a member of the 2026 Idaho State Athletics Hall of Fame class. Breakwell, who wore jersey No. 3 for the Bengals from 2011 to 2015, was one of the most decorated shortstops in program history and helped lead Idaho State to back-to-back-to-back Big Sky regular season titles.
A native of Napa, California, Breakwell arrived at ISU after a standout prep career at Justin-Siena High School, where she earned all-county and all-league honors in each of her final three seasons and was named a MaxPreps Small School All-American as a senior. She stepped immediately into the starting lineup at shortstop as a freshman in 2012, playing and starting all 48 games, and never relinquished that role, going on to start 211 games across her four-year career. Breakwell graduated in 2015 with a Bachelor of Science in Sport Management with a minor in Marketing.
On the field, Breakwell's numbers were among the best in the Big Sky during her era. She hit .367 with nine home runs, 40 RBIs and a .594 slugging percentage in her junior season of 2014, earning Big Sky Conference Player of the Year honors and second-team NFCA All-Region recognition. That year she put together one of the most dominant stretches in ISU softball history, hitting .697 over a 10-game span from April 5 through April 27 with six home runs, 15 RBIs and 16 runs scored. She followed that performance with a 2015 campaign in which she hit .366 with five home runs, 51 RBIs and 14 doubles, earning First Team All-Big Sky Conference honors for the second consecutive season. Over her career, Breakwell accumulated 10 or more home runs in two separate seasons and posted an honorable mention All-Big Sky nod as a sophomore in 2013 as well.
Breakwell was equally accomplished in the classroom. She earned Dean's List recognition four times, was named to the Big Sky Conference All-Academic Team in both 2013 and 2014, and received the National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-America Scholar Athlete award in 2014. She was also nominated for the Athletics Advisory Board Academic Athlete Achievement Award in 2014-2015, a reflection of the standard she maintained on both sides of her student-athlete experience.
Following her playing career, Breakwell has continued to build on the foundation established at Idaho State. Her induction into the 2026 ISU Athletics Hall of Fame recognizes not only what she accomplished in a Bengal uniform, but the character and work ethic she brought to Pocatello and carried beyond it. She joins the Hall as one of the finest shortstops and student-athletes in the history of Idaho State softball.
Head Coach Julie Wright, who coached Breakwell for all four years at ISU, had this to say on Breakwell.
"It is with immense pride and absolute certainty that I endorse Hailey Breakwell for the Idaho State University Sports Hall of Fame. In my 23 years of coaching Division 1 softball, I have had the privilege of working with countless elite athletes. However, none have matched the raw athleticism, internal drive, and pure dedication that Hailey demonstrated throughout her career. Her commitment to her craft remains the most impressive thing I have witnessed in my coaching tenure.
At the Division 1 level, the shortstop is the heartbeat of the defense. It is a high-pressure position that demands flawless execution and steady leadership. Hailey started every single game of her career at shortstop, providing us with a consistent, calm influence and a playmaker mentality. She didn't just meet the expectations of the position; she exceeded them with unbridled passion, happiness, and pure joy.
Truthfully, that type of defensive output would be enough on most teams, but not for Hailey. She breathed rare air as a shortstop who could also dominate at the plate. As a top all-time performer in many offensive categories, her legacy is well-cemented. Hailey Breakwell represents the very best of ISU softball. Her quiet confidence, exceptional leadership, and genuine love for the game have solidified her status as one of the all-time greats to ever wear a Bengals uniform."
Sincerely, Coach Julie Wright
