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From the WIAC --

Defending conference champion University of Wisconsin-Whitewater has been tabbed to capture the 2024 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) softball title, according to a preseason poll conducted by the league’s head coaches and sports information directors.

The Warhawks have won 15 regular season titles – and eight in the last nine seasons – and have produced 17 straight years of 20-plus victories. UW-Whitewater also received an NCAA bid for the 23rd time in program archives last year. Four All-WIAC first team selections from 2023 return for the Warhawks, including Maddy Anderson, Brooke Hock, Taylor Koehler and Kiarra Kostroski.

UW-La Crosse is pegged for second in the WIAC standings. The Eagles won the WIAC Tournament crown in 2023 for the fourth time in program history and made their seventh NCAA appearance. Leading the returnees for UW-La Crosse is the two-time reigning WIAC Pitcher of the Year Elise Weinzierl, along with Jordyn McCormack who claimed WIAC Position Player of the Year status in 2022, and Kyra Lard the conference’s Newcomer of the Year in 2022. Sam Korn takes over as head coach at UW-La Crosse after serving the same role at Rockford University (Ill.) during the 2023 campaign.

UW-La Crosse is followed in the predictions by: UW-Oshkosh; UW-Stevens Point; UW-Platteville; UW-Eau Claire; UW-Stout; and UW-River Falls.

The WIAC schedule begins on April 13. Each team will play a 14-game conference slate with the top-six teams in the standings advancing to the WIAC Tournament (presented by Culver’s) to be held May 9-12, at the No. 1 seed. The winner of the conference tournament secures an automatic bid into the NCAA Division III Championship.

2024 Preseason Predictions

(Voted on by WIAC head coaches and sports information directors)

                                                                2023 Record

1. UW-Whitewater                          (28-13 overall, 11-3 WIAC)

2. UW-La Crosse                               (28-15, 9-5)

3. UW-Oshkosh                                 (36-9, 10-4)

4. UW-Stevens Point                       (28-13, 7-7)

5. UW-Platteville                               (25-16, 7-7)

6. UW-Eau Claire                               (17-19, 6-8)

7. UW-Stout                                       (11-26, 3-11)

8. UW-River Falls                               (15-21, 3-11)

Team Capsules (Entering the 2024 Season)

UW-Eau Claire

Head Coach:  Leslie Huntington; 23rd season at UWEC; 565-310-2
Letterwinners Returning/Lost:  12/6
Starting Position Players Returning/Lost:  4/5
Pitchers with Starting Experience Returning/Lost:  4/1
Pitchers with Saves Returning/Lost:  2/0

Returning All-WIAC:  Lauren Gamme, Sr., RHP (2022-Honorable); Kenna Strunsee, Jr., OF (2022-Honorable)

Notable Returning Position Players:  Paige Lathrop, So., OF; Kaitlyn Madole, Sr., INF

Notable Returning Pitchers:  Jacie Schultz, Jr., LHP, Hailey Hagedorn, So., RHP

UW-La Crosse

Head Coach:  Sam Korn; 2nd season (1st season at UWL); 14-26 (overall) / 0-0 (UWL)
Letterwinners Returning/Lost:  15/7
Starting Position Players Returning/Lost:  4/5
Pitchers with Starting Experience Returning/Lost:  4/0
Pitchers with Saves Returning/Lost:  3/0

Returning All-WIAC:  Kyra Lard, Jr., SS (2022-First/Newcomer of the Year, 2023-First); Jordyn McCormack, Sr., 3B (2022-First/Position Player of the Year, 2023-First); Marissa Pease, So., C/1B (2023-Honorable); Remington Stark, Sr., RHP (2022-First, 2023-Honorable); Elise Weinzierl, Sr., RHP (2022-First/Pitcher of the Year, 2023-First/Pitcher of the Year)

Notable Returning Position Players:  Abbey Bosch, So., 2B/SS; Anna Jensen, Sr., C

Notable Returning Pitchers:  Ally Eden, Jr., RHP; Madi Lee, Jr., RHP

UW-Oshkosh

Head Coach:  Scott Beyer; 11th season at UWO; 257-113
Letterwinners Returning/Lost:  15/5
Starting Position Players Returning/Lost:  7/2
Pitchers with Starting Experience Returning/Lost:  2/2
Pitchers with Saves Returning/Lost:  1/1

Returning All-WIAC:  Abby Garceau, Jr., OF (2022-First); Sydney Nemetz, Jr., RHP (2022-First, 2023-First); Morgan Rau, Sr., INF (2022-First); Hannah Ritter, Sr., 1B/OF (2021-First, 2022-First, 2023-First); Sophie Wery, Jr., C (2022-Honorable, 2023-First)

Notable Returning Position Players:  Zoe Malone, Sr., INF; Haylie Wittman, So., INF

Notable Returning Pitchers:  Abby Freismuth, Sr., RHP

UW-Platteville

Head Coach:  Becca Runde; 5th season at UWP; 57-54
Letterwinners Returning/Lost:  18/4
Starting Position Players Returning/Lost:  6/3
Pitchers with Starting Experience Returning/Lost:  1/1
Pitchers with Saves Returning/Lost:  2/1

Returning All-WIAC:  Taylor Roughen, Jr., RHP (2023-First)

Notable Returning Position Players:  Jordan Johnson, Jr., 1B; Payton Marvin, Sr., C

Notable Returning Pitchers:  Jordan Johnson, Jr., RHP

UW-River Falls

Head Coach:  Amber Dohlman; 12th season (9th at UWRF); 150-202-1 (overall) / 97-146 (UWRF)
Letterwinners Returning/Lost:  8/8
Starting Position Players Returning/Lost:  4/5
Pitchers with Starting Experience Returning/Lost:  3/3
Pitchers with Saves Returning/Lost:  2/0

Returning All-WIAC:  Kelly Aultman, Jr., INF (2022-Honorable, 2023-First); Johanna Breyen, Sr., OF (2021-First/Newcomer of the Year)

Notable Returning Position Players:  Maddie Koch, So., OF; Hannah Richards, Sr., OF; Jewel Waupekenay, Sr., INF

Notable Returning Pitchers:  Emily Crowe, So., RHP; Lindsey Duggan, Jr., RHP; Maggie Wallin, Sr., RHP

UW-Stevens Point

Head Coach:  Ryan Konitzer; 8th season (7th at UWSP); 120-120-1 (overall) / 107-95-1 (UWSP)
Letterwinners Returning/Lost:  12/9
Starting Position Players Returning/Lost:  8/1
Pitchers with Starting Experience Returning/Lost:  2/2
Pitchers with Saves Returning/Lost:  2/2

Returning All-WIAC:  Jesse Klicker, Jr., SS (2022-Honorable, 2023-First); Sara Traxel, Sr., OF (2021-Honorable, 2022-First, 2023-Honorable); Ashley Zygowski, So., RHP (2023-Honorable)

Notable Returning Position Players:  Rachel Baker, Jr., C; Sophia Heckendorf, Jr., OF; Allie Meyers, Sr., INF; Trinity Otto, So., INF

Notable Returning Pitchers:  Abby Van Beek, Sr., RHP

UW-Stout

Head Coach:  Chris Iliopoulos; 3rd season; 23-50
Letterwinners Returning/Lost:  12/7
Starting Position Players Returning/Lost:  7/2
Pitchers with Starting Experience Returning/Lost:  3/0
Pitchers with Saves Returning/Lost:  1/0

Returning All-WIAC:  None

Notable Returning Position Players:  Alexa Anderson, Jr., INF; Peyton Dolecki, So., OF; Ashley Jacobson, Sr., 1B/UTIL

Notable Returning Pitchers:  Anna Blanford, Jr., RHP; Mackensie Wolterstorff, Grad., RHP

UW-Whitewater

Head Coach:  Brenda Volk; 26th season at UWW; 728-306-5
Letterwinners Returning/Lost:  19/5
Starting Position Players Returning/Lost:  7/2
Pitchers with Starting Experience Returning/Lost:  3/1
Pitchers with Saves Returning/Lost:  3/0

Returning All-WIAC:  Maddy Anderson, Grad., RHP (2023-First); Kate Cleveland, Sr., RHP (2021-Honorable, 2022-Honorable); Rhiann Dick, Sr., LHP (2021-Honorable, 2022-First); Meghan Dunning, Sr., SS (2021-Honorable, 2022-First, 2023-Honorable); Brooke Hock, So., RHP (2023-First); Taylor Koehler, So., 1B (2023-First); Kiarra Kostroski, Jr., OF/C (2023-First); Brooke Mangler, So., 2B (2022-Honorable); Grace Wickman, Jr., 3B (2023-Honorable)

Notable Returning Position Players:  Delaney Becker, Jr., 2B, Ally Dietz, So., 1B, Maggie Ward, So., OF

Notable Returning Pitchers:  Ava Kostecki, Jr., LHP