2025 OnFocus Season Preview: IOLA-SCANDINAVIA THUNDERBIRDS SOFTBALL
SCHOOL:![]()
Iola-Scandinavia![]()
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NICKNAME:![]()
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Thunderbirds
COACH:![]()
Tom Anderson (34th Year)![]()
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CAREER RECORD: 454-267
ASSISTANT![]()
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2024 RECORD:![]()
14-10 overall
COACHES:![]()
Stacy Bestul (25th Year)![]()
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11-3 CWC-East
LAST YEAR’S FINISH IN CONFERENCE: In 2024, we won the conference championship
with an 11-3 record. Our last conference championship was in 2019. We edged out Amherst and
Manawa who each had 10-4 records. The rest of the conference finished in the following order:
Wittenberg-Birnamwood (9-5), Bonduel and Weyauwega-Fremont each had 6-8 records,
Shiocton (4-10) and Menominee Indian (0-14).
HOW FAR DID YOUR TEAM GET IN POST-SEASON PLAY? In 2024, we lost to
Manawa, 3-0, in our regional championship game.
2025 SOFTBALL ROSTER: Seniors: Libby Maus, Kylee Noack and Jordynn Sullivan;
Juniors: Brooklyn Berrens, Rayanne Clendenning, Brylee Jueds, Maya Munoz, Ava Printz,
Katelin Rosenthal and Natalie Schwirtz; Sophomores: Gwen Fredy, Charlotte Isermann, Maddie
Karolus, Jenna Kurki, Sophia Munoz, Emma Printz, Grace Schomburg and Cayleigh Woyak;
Freshmen: Sydney Bestul, Addie Grimm, Braelyn Jueds and Maggie Maus
KEY LOSSES FROM LAST YEAR’S TEAM: From our 2024 team, we lost to graduation
Maci Heschke-1B, Myah Heschke-C, Abby Isermann-RF, Maddie Much-P and Julia Munoz-P.
Munoz earned first team all-conference and first team all-district. Myah Heschke earned
honorable mention all-conference. Maci and Myah Heschke, Isermann, Much and Munoz earned
academic all-state honors graduating with over a 3.5 GPA. Much and Munoz were selected to
play in the WFSCA senior all-star games.
TOP RETURNING LETTERMEN: We have six juniors who saw a significant amount of
playing time for us in 2024 at the varsity level. They include Brooklyn Berrens-SS, Rayanne
Clendenning-LF, Brylee Jueds-DP, Maya Munoz-2B, Ava Printz-CF and Katie Rosenthal-3B
Berrens was first team all-conference, first team all-district and third team all-state last season.
Brylee Jueds was honorable mention all-conference.
OTHER VARSITY PROSPECTS: We have several players who have not seen a lot of varsity
playing time in the past and will now be battling for that playing time. They include seniors
Libby Maus, Kylee Noack and Jordynn Sullivan; junior Natalie Schwartz; sophomores Charlotte
Isermann, Maddie Karolus, Jenna Kurki, Sophia Munoz, Emma Printz, Cayleigh Woyak and
freshman Braelyn Jueds.
JUNIOR VARSITY: Those players not seeing a lot of playing time on the varsity level will play
on the junior varsity team. However, a few of these players have the potential to eventually
move up to the varsity team at different points of the season.
TEAM STRENGTHS & WEAKNESSES: As it is with each season, we have a lot of
questions. With the loss of those five graduated starters from last year’s team including our
number one starting all-conference pitcher Julia Munoz, we have a few positions to fill. As
always with softball, solid pitching and catching is key. At this time, junior pitcher Rayanne
Clendenning will be called upon to do the majority of our pitching this season. However,
sophomore pitchers Charlotte Isermann and Emma Printz could see their varsity pitching load
increase during the season if need be. At catcher, we may move junior Brooklyn Berrens back to
catcher, but she is versatile enough to play just about anywhere to help the team. Sophomore
Maddie Karolus and freshman Braelyn Jueds could also see time behind the plate.
Last year, our infield was young and inexperienced and it showed at times. Hopefully, with a
year under their belt, we can see great improvement this season. Juniors Katie Rosenthal (3B)
and Maya Munoz (SS) return as infield starters from last year. Junior Brylee Jueds saw limited
time at first base last year. We have several other players battling for playing time in the infield.
Depending on what happens at our infield positions, we will fill out our outfield positions. At
this time, Ava Printz will return to anchor our centerfield spot. It is important that all our players
are versatile enough so they can fill out any position that becomes open.
GOALS FOR THIS YEAR: Our goals for this season as in past seasons is to always stay
competitive in each game and improve throughout the season. If we compete and improve
throughout the season, we will be okay.
HOW DO YOU SEE THE CONFERENCE RACE? Amherst returns first team all-
conference senior Makenna Orsund (2B), two second team all-conference juniors Sammie
Nooyen (P) and Delaney Conner (OF). Bonduel lost the CWC-East player of the year, Hailee
Thompson (SS) who is now playing and contributing to a very good UWSP team as a freshman.
The Bears also lost first team all-conference player Hailey Zernicke (P, INF) and honorable
mention all-conference catcher Lila Pleshek. Bonduel returns all-conference second team senior
Tatum Sporisky (P, OF). Manawa returns first team all-conference senior Kelsey Behnke (P,SS),
second team all-conference sophomore pitcher Olivia Zielke. The Wolves also return all-
conference honorable mention seniors: Briley Rosin (INF); Ellie Stroesenreuther (C) and Bre
Bonikowske (1B) and sophomore Alayna Seeger (OF). Menominee Indian loses second team
all-conference Danika Wynos (P) and all-conference honorable mention player Gabriella Wayka
(3B). Shiocton lost first team all-conference centerfielder Sydney Ritchie, second team all-
conference player Liz Pelky (1B) and all-conference honorable mention pitcher Hailie Poppy.
Weyauwega-Fremont graduated second team all-conference catcher Lulu Fernandez. The
Warhawks return first team all-conference senior pitcher Olivia Witkowski, second team all-
conference player Jalyn Loehrke (2B) and a pair of honorable mention all-conference seniors
Riley Delwiche (CF/3B) and Hannah Pantzlaff (RF/2B). Wittenberg-Birnamwood lost second
team all-conference outfielder Camryn Miller and honorable mention player Lillian Lemieux
(1B). The Chargers return first team all-conference junior shortstop Rory Salvesen and senior
third baseman Sophia Lemieux. They also return second team all-conference player Brie Ladika
(2B).
As always, this should be an interesting conference race this season. Manawa and Weyauwega-
Fremont should be the two strong favorites going into the season. Both the Wolves and the
Warhawks return their number one all-conference pitchers along with several really good
position players. Amherst, Bonduel, Shiocton, Wittenberg-Birnamwood and us should continue
to be solid and should be in the mix for the conference title. The conference as a whole is deep
and pretty balanced.
Upcoming Schedule: Our first varsity game is scheduled for Thursday, March 27 at Westfield
starting at 5:00pm.
Softball Hotline: For up-to-date information on games throughout the season, call the I-S
Softball Hotline, 445-2411, Ext. 5000. Cancellation of games, especially due to the weather, will
be announced immediately on the hotline.
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Author: David Keech
David Keech is a retired teacher and works as a sportswriter, sports official and as an educational consultant. He has reported on amateur sports since 2011, known as 'KeechDaVoice.' David can be reached at keechertheteacher@gmail.com
