Paige Shupp
Contributing Writer
With the 2023 season at an end, the softball team is looking towards a more successful season in 2024. After the best season in program history, the lady Warriors are working towards improving for an even better outcome this year.
For eight years the softball team has been coached by Jaime Wohlbach but last season was her best yet. The softball team made program history for being the first to reach an NCAA Division II Atlantic Region Championship and NCAA Softball Championship appearance. They were also ranked #5 in the final NFCA Coaches Poll, the best national ranking for the team in program history.
But the success did not stop there. Five players including Jada Smallwood, Reilly Vicendese, Molly Nies, Abigail Weirich and Kate Donaghue were honored for their season success by achieving a spot on the All-PSAC East Second Team.
Paige Zigmund a senior pitcher was also honored by being the only player to make the All-PSAC East First Team. Zigmund was also the first-ever Warrior pitcher to make NFCA All-Region First Team honors.
Even after all the awards and all the success, the softball team has important goals for the 2024 season. By working hard and relying on each other the team has their goals in sight.
“We really improved our mental game. We improved on bouncing back from losses or failures and getting into the next game, at bat, or play. Being able to capitalize on the past failures and use it as motivation has been something we all really worked on as a whole to better us” stated Zigmund.
As one of the seniors on the team, Zigmund wishes to take a role of leadership to help her team. She knows the team well after being part of the program and is a successful player who would be respected by the others. She shared that a common team goal and personal goal she wishes to achieve this season is winning the PSAC Championship.
After going the distance last season this is one of the most important things the team wishes to achieve in 2024.
Zigmund emphasized, “This is something I have always wanted to cherish as a team and take away from college and is something the team as a whole has always talked about.”
The biggest successes in this upcoming season are going to come from the small adjustments. The team has all the parts to make their goals possible. With a deep flexible field arrangement and talent along with the good sportsmanship towards each other makes them a strong team.
So, as the season begins with no time to wait anymore, the Lady Warriors are taking the season head-on. Each team is viewed the same they go into the season with one mindset, and one goal. 2024 is the season of competition and as Zigmund would say, “They are always going to play like they are playing against the best team in the country.”