Softball

All-WIAC Softball Honors Announced

Printable PDF of the 2024 All-WIAC Softball Team

MADISON, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-La Crosse’s Kyra Lard and UW-Stevens Point’s Morgan Harwood were selected the Kwik Trip Position Player of the Year and Kwik Trip Pitcher of the Year, respectively to lead the individuals chosen to the 2024 All-Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Softball Team by the league coaches. In addition, Harwood was tabbed the Kwik Trip Newcomer of the Year and UW-Stevens Point received Kwik Trip Coaching Staff of the Year recognition.
 
Lard claimed first team recognition for the second straight year. This season, she leads the WIAC with a .458 batting average, .786 slugging percentage, .500 on-base percentage, 61 RBI and 17 doubles, while ranking second with 60 hits, third with eight home runs and fifth with 35 runs scored. Lard recorded at least one hit in 34 games, including 18 multi-hit performances. She had a season-high four hits against University of Dubuque (Iowa) on April 15.
 
Harwood is just the second player in program history to claim the pitching honor, joining Karen Guckenberger (2002). Harwood ranks second in the conference with a 0.86 earned run average and 14 victories, fourth with 119 strikeouts, and fifth with a .188 opponent batting average and 97.2 innings pitched. She tossed no-hitters in back-to-back outings, combining with Ashley Zygowski against College of St. Scholastica (Minn.) on March 29, and a solo effort against St. Norbert College (Wis.) on April 9. Harwood had a season-high 12 strikeouts against Rockford University (Ill.) on April 10. A newcomer is defined as a student-athlete who used her first season of participation in softball this season. Transfers are not eligible unless they didn’t participate in softball at their previous institution.
 
Repeat selections on the first team from a season ago included:  UW-La Crosse’s Jordyn McCormack and Elise Weinzierl (Pitcher of the Year); UW-Oshkosh’s Sydney Nemetz and Hannah Ritter; and UW-Whitewater’s Maddy Anderson and Kiarra Kostroski. McCormack (Position Player of the Year), Nemetz, Ritter, and Weinzierl (Pitcher of the Year), along with UW-Oshkosh’s Abby Garceau and Morgan Rau, and UW-Stevens Point’s Sara Traxel were first team honorees in 2022. Ritter added first team status in 2021.
 
UW-Stevens Point’s coaching staff has led the squad to a 32-7 record – the most wins since the 2007 campaign. The Pointers also earned a spot in the NCAA Division III Championship for the first time since 2007. The coaching staff includes head coach Ryan Konitzer and assistant coach Brittany Baneck.
 
An All-Sportsmanship Team was named for individuals that displayed exemplary sportsmanship throughout the season. It included one member from each school.
 
2024 All-WIAC Softball Team
Name, School, Year, Position, Hometown (High School)
Maddy Anderson, Whitewater, Graduate Student, Righthanded Pitcher, Waukesha, Wis. (North)
Abby Garceau, Oshkosh, Junior, Outfield, Mishicot, Wis. (Mishicot)
Morgan Harwood, Stevens Point, Freshman, Righthanded Pitcher, Neenah, Wis. (Neenah)
Brooke Howard, La Crosse, Freshman, Outfield, Rock Falls, Ill. (Rock Falls)
Kiarra Kostroski, Whitewater, Junior, Utility, Fort Atkinson, Wis. (Fort Atkinson)
Kyra Lard, La Crosse, Junior, Shortstop, McHenry, Ill. (East)
Jordyn McCormack, La Crosse, Senior, Thirdbase, Austin, Minn. (Austin)
Molly Marquardt, Eau Claire, Freshman, Catcher/Thirdbase, Manhattan, Ill. (Lincoln-Way West)
Sydney Nemetz, Oshkosh, Junior, Righthanded Pitcher, Marinette, Wis. (Marinette)
Morgan Rau, Oshkosh, Senior, Shortstop, Downers Grove, Ill. (South)
Sydney Rau, Oshkosh, Senior, Outfield, Downers Grove, Ill. (South)
Hannah Ritter, Oshkosh, Senior, Firstbase, Marengo, Ill. (Marengo)
Kaitlyn Roberts, Stevens Point, Freshman, Outfield, Yorkville, Ill. (Yorkville)
Kenna Strunsee, Eau Claire, Junior, Outfield, Waukesha, Wis. (South)
Sara Traxel, Stevens Point, Senior, Outfield, Oak Creek, Wis. (Oak Creek)
Elise Weinzierl, La Crosse, Senior, Righthanded Pitcher, St. Michael, Minn. (St. Michael-Albertville)
Grace Wickman, Whitewater, Junior, Thirdbase, Wausaukee, Wis. (Peshtigo)
Haylie Wittman, Oshkosh, Sophomore, Secondbase, Kaukauna, Wis. (Kaukauna)
Mackensie Wolterstorff, Stout, Graduate Student, Righthanded Pitcher, Mounds View, Minn. (Irondale)
Ashley Zygowski, Stevens Point, Sophomore, Righthanded Pitcher, Saukville, Wis. (Port Washington)
 
Honorable Mention
Kelly Aultman, River Falls, Junior, Thirdbase, Plainfield, Ill. (North)
Rachel Baker, Stevens Point, Junior, Firstbase, Richmond, Ill. (Richmond-Burton)
Rhiann Dick, Whitewater, Junior, Lefthanded Pitcher, Palatine, Ill. (Palatine)
Payton Dolecki, Stout, Sophomore, Outfield, Schaumburg, Ill. (Schaumburg)
Hailey Hagedorn, Eau Claire, Sophomore, Utility, Farmington, Minn. (Farmington)
Jordan Johnson, Platteville, Junior, Firstbase, Moline, Ill. (Moline)
Jesse Klicker, Stevens Point, Junior, Shortstop, Spring Grove, Ill. (Richmond-Burton)
Allison Peters, Platteville, Freshman, Thirdbase, Peshtigo, Wis. (Peshtigo)
Taylor Roughen, Platteville, Junior, Righthanded Pitcher, Lake Mills, Wis. (Lake Mills)
Remington Stark, La Crosse, Senior, Righthanded Pitcher, Orfordville, Wis. (Parkview)
Lauren Trottier, Eau Claire, Freshman, Righthanded Pitcher, Burlington, Wis. (Elkhorn)
Maggie Wallin, River Falls, Senior, Righthanded Pitcher, Downing, Wis. (Glenwood City)
Sophie Wery, Oshkosh, Junior, Catcher, Seymour, Wis. (Seymour)
 
All-Sportsmanship Team
Kelly Aultman, River Falls, Junior, Thirdbase, Plainfield, Ill. (North)
Ella Harris, La Crosse, Sophomore, Utility, Lino Lakes, Minn. (Irondale)
Sawyer Holberg, Stevens Point, Freshman, Utility, Wisconsin Rapids, Wis. (Lincoln)
Sophia Kinjerski, Whitewater, Junior, Secondbase, Maribel, Wis. (Denmark)
Kaitlyn Madole, Eau Claire, Senior, Infield, Owatonna, Minn. (Owatonna)
Zoe Malone, Oshkosh, Senior, Infield, Pittsburgh, Pa. (Upper St. Clair)
Liz Rohl, Stout, Sophomore, Thirdbase, Prescott, Wis. (Prescott)
Danielle Trumbo, Platteville, Senior, Outfield, South Elgin, Ill. (St. Charles North)
 
Kwik Trip Position Player of the Year:  Kyra Lard of La Crosse
Kwik Trip Pitcher of the Year:   Morgan Harwood of Stevens Point
Kwik Trip Newcomer of the Year:  Morgan Harwood of Stevens Point
Kwik Trip Coaching Staff of the Year:  Stevens Point
Judy Kruckman Scholar-Athlete:  Jordyn McCormack of UW-La Crosse
 
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