Softball
Ryan Mallinger- 2nd year Head Coach
Assistant: Niki Mallinger
2023 Recap: 6-14 record
Top Athletes Lost: None
Key Returning Athletes: Lizzie Pavlis: .655 BA, 34 hits, 6 HR, 28 RBI, and 18 SB; Olivia Peters: pitched 55 innings; 65 SO, .400 BA; Sadie Iott: 13 SB throw outs, .393 BA; Addy Hammer, Aly Schepel, Nora Hamiliton, and Jacey Sundermeyer.
Team Strengths & Weaknesses: Team strengths include the number of girls participating. This year at our first practice we had 24 girls compared to 18 or 19 when we started last season. Another couple of strengths this team has are our pitching staff and the power of the middle of our lineup.
Weakness, we hope to address this year is the team’s overall softball IQ. Last year, we had many girls that had not played competitive softball in many years or even ever- so there were times that games got away from us because we were unsure of a cutoff or baserunning situation. We are hoping that returning so many girls will help us be more well equipped for the challenges this season presents.
Coaches Comments: In year 2 of the softball program, the team is looking to grow in all aspects. We hope to finish with more wins this season, giving ourselves a better chance at winning our SODAK 16 game this season. This is our last season at the A level before moving to B’s next year, so I know our girls would love a chance to play in the state tournament this season. Once again, this will take lots of growth and effort, but I know the team is willing to work for it.
They have pride in this program. The girls want it for all the right reasons, and we hope that we can help them reach their goals. Us coaches understand there will be rough patches throughout the season with some tough losses, but we are hoping to be a resilient bunch that does a great job of learning and growing from our mistakes.
Golf
Chad Bushkofsky- 1st year Head Coach
Assistant: Josh Cleaveland
2023 Recap: Madison was the LCC Conference Champion and placed in multiple meets throughout the season. She went on to compete at the state level and finished 45th.
Clara placed in the McCook/Montrose Tournament.
Top Athletes Lost: None
Key Returning Athletes: Senior Clara Kelm and Sophomore Madison Bushkofsky
Team Strengths & Weaknesses: Clara and Madison both focussed on their game this summer and made huge improvements.
Coaches Comments: I am hoping both girls will have a chance at state this year!
Both girls have experience on the course with Clara being a senior and Madison a sophomore. My plan is to work on the mental side of the game as well as spend a lot of time out on the course.
Both girls have a ton of potential and I intend to help them maximize this throughout our season.
Track & Field
Owen Parsley- 7th year Head Coach
Assistants: Georgia Adolph, Scott Headrick,
Jessi Giles, Liam Streitz, Lori Williams, Callie Martins, Scott Ross
2023 Recap: Girls 6th in LCC, Boys 7th in the LCC; Girls 7th in the BEC, Boys 6th in the BEC
Our Girls team tied for 13th at the state meet out of 37 teams.
Conference Affiliatios: Lake Central and Big East Conferences
Top Athletes Lost:
Boys: Caleb Pitsenberger, throwing; Ethan Hoffman, sprints
Girls: Katherine Kulm and Jade Stone, throwing
Key Returning Boys:
Key Returning Girls:
Seniors: Lily Klein and Lizzie Pavlis
Juniors: Josie Hamilton, Diamond Roy, Morgan Kontz, Ayashi Artoz, Sadie Iott and Mya Nichols
Sophomores: Faith Wiese and Ella Hoffman
Freshman: Kiley Westberry
Eighth grader: Morgan Sheppard
Team Strengths & Weaknesses: For strengths, both of our boys and girls teams have high numbers. We are grateful to have about 55 HS athletes out this spring and we truly want to see boys and girls out competing, improving themselves, and staying healthy. With such numbers, we hope to flesh out a full meet schedule for the races, jumps, and throws. Other strengths include team leaders. Our athletes are coachable and excited to compete as a team.
Team Weaknesses: For the boys and girls, we do lack depth in the sprint relays and we also have a young team still learning about what it takes to go from being good athletes to great athletes, but it’s already happening and will continue with time.
Coaches Comments: Our theme for the season, inspired by 1 Peter 4:10, is “Use the Gift, Share the Gift” a reminder that we all have God-given abilities that we should embrace and utilize to the fullest, while also using them to benefit others. We want athletes to constantly put in a quality effort while also positively representing their team, school, and community. With a top-of-the-line coaching staff and eager, enjoyable, and hopeful athletes, I’m thoroughly excited for this upcoming mega-legit-rad track and field season.
