(WIAC) MADISON, Wis.–Defending conference champion University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh has been tabbed to win the 2025 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) softball title, according to a preseason poll conducted by the league’s head coaches and sports information directors.
The Titans, who enter the 2025 campaign ranked fourth in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) NCAA Division III Top 25 Poll, secured the fifth regular-season conference championship in program history last season. UW-Oshkosh also advanced to the NCAA Division III Softball World Series for the second time in four years and established a program record with 45 victories. The Titans welcome back five All-WIAC first team honorees from last season, including Abby Garceau, Sydney Nemetz, Morgan Rau, Sydney Rau and Haylie Wittman.
UW-Stevens Point is ranked second in the conference predictions and enters the season ranked No. 23 in the NFCA Poll. In 2024, the Pointers made their first NCAA appearance since 2007 and finished with the most victories (32) since that same season. UW-Stevens Point returns a trio of All-WIAC first team selections from 2024, including Morgan Harwood, who claimed WIAC Pitcher of the Year and Newcomer of the Year recognition.
UW-Whitewater is slotted for third in the conference poll and ranked No. 21 in the NFCA Poll. The Warhawks won the conference tournament crown last year for the 11th time in program history. UW-Whitewater also made its 24th NCAA appearance and had its most wins (33) since 2017.
UW-Whitewater is followed in the conference predictions by: UW-La Crosse; UW-Eau Claire; UW-Platteville; UW-Stout; and UW-River Falls.
A pair of teams will have new coaches beginning in 2025 with Ethan Giese taking the lead role at UW-River Falls and Lakyn Wagoner occupying the top spot at UW-Stout. Giese was an assistant coach at the University of Dayton (Ohio) in 2024, and an assistant coach at UW-La Crosse from 2020-23. Wagoner was an assistant coach at the University of Evansville (Ind.) from 2023-24.
The WIAC schedule begins on April 12. Each team will play a 14-game conference slate with the top-six teams in the standings advancing to the single-elimination WIAC Tournament (presented by Culver’s) to be held May 9-11, at the No. 1 seed. The winner of the conference tournament secures an automatic bid into the NCAA Division III Championship.
2025 Preseason Predictions (Voted on by WIAC head coaches and sports information directors)
2024 Record
- UW-Oshkosh (45-7 overall, 12-2 WIAC)
- UW-Stevens Point (32-9, 11-3)
- UW-Whitewater (33-10, 9-5)
- UW-La Crosse (24-19, 9-5)
- UW-Eau Claire (18-18, 7-7)
- UW-Platteville (22-16, 2-12)
- UW-Stout (22-20, 6-8)
- UW-River Falls (10-22, 0-14)
Team Capsules
UW-Eau Claire
Head Coach: Leslie Huntington; 24th season at UWEC; 583-328-2
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 20/10
Starting Position Players Returning/Lost: 8/1
Pitchers with Starting Experience Returning/Lost: 5/2
Pitchers with Saves Returning/Lost: 3/1
Returning All-WIAC: Hailey Hagedorn, Jr., UTIL (2024-Honorable); Molly Marquardt, So., C (2024-First); Kenna Strunsee, Sr., OF (2022-Honorable, 2024-First); Lauren Trottier, So., RHP (2024-Honorable)
Notable Returning Position Players: Claire Beck, Sr., DP; Ella Henderson, So., INF; Paige Lathrop, Jr., OF
Notable Returning Pitchers: Emma Sather, Sr., LHP; Kira Schubert, So., RHP; Jacie Schultz, Sr., LHP
UW-La Crosse
Head Coach: Sam Korn; 3rd season (2nd season at UWL); 38-45 (overall) / 24-19 (UWL)
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 15/9
Starting Position Players Returning/Lost: 7/2
Pitchers with Starting Experience Returning/Lost: 3/3
Pitchers with Saves Returning/Lost: 2/0
Returning All-WIAC: Brooke Howard, So., OF (2024-First); Kyra Lard, Sr., SS (2022-First/Newcomer of the Year, 2023-First, 2024-First/Position Player of the Year); Marissa Pease, Jr., C/1B (2023-Honorable)
Notable Returning Position Players: Abbey Bosch, Jr., 2B/SS; Cristin Casey, So., UTIL; Lindsay Steien, So., OF
Notable Returning Pitchers: Brynne Bieri, So., RHP; Carmen Follette, So., RHP; Madi Lee, Sr., RHP
UW-Oshkosh
Head Coach: Scott Beyer; 12th season at UWO; 302-120
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 17/5
Starting Position Players Returning/Lost: 7/2
Pitchers with Starting Experience Returning/Lost: 3/2
Pitchers with Saves Returning/Lost: 2/1
Returning All-WIAC: Abby Garceau, Sr., OF (2022-First, 2024-First); Sydney Nemetz, Sr., RHP (2022-First, 2023-First, 2024-First); Morgan Rau, Sr., INF (2022-First, 2024-First); Sydney Rau, Sr., OF (2024-First); Sophie Wery, Sr., C (2022-Honorable, 2023-First, 2024-Honorable); Haylie Wittman, Jr., INF (2024-First)
Notable Returning Position Players: Cali Divito, Sr., INF; Morgan Miller, Jr., UTIL
Notable Returning Pitchers: Brianna Bougie, So., RHP
UW-Platteville
Head Coach: Becca Runde; 6th season at UWP; 79-70
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 22/5
Starting Position Players Returning/Lost: 7/2
Pitchers with Starting Experience Returning/Lost: 2/0
Pitchers with Saves Returning/Lost: 2/1
Returning All-WIAC: Melissa Dietz, Jr., 3B (2023-First/Position Player of the Year and Newcomer of the Year); Jordan Johnson, Sr., 1B (2024-Honorable); Allison Peters, So., 3B (2024-Honorable); Taylor Roughen, Sr., RHP (2023-First, 2024-Honorable)
Notable Returning Position Players: Mia Savage, So., UTIL; Felicia Teubert, Sr., OF
Notable Returning Pitchers: Carlie Jo Brownlee, Jr., RHP
UW-River Falls
Head Coach: Ethan Giese; 1st season at UWRF
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 15/4
Starting Position Players Returning/Lost: 7/2
Pitchers with Starting Experience Returning/Lost: 3/1
Pitchers with Saves Returning/Lost: 0/0
Returning All-WIAC: Kelly Aultman, Sr., INF (2022-Honorable, 2023-First, 2024-Honorable)
Notable Returning Position Players: Kayla Dolan, Sr., INF; Grace Gardner, Jr., INF; Maddie Koch, Jr., OF
Notable Returning Pitchers: Emily Crowe, Jr., RHP; Lindsey Duggan, Sr., RHP; Brooklyn VanGruensven, So., RHP
UW-Stevens Point
Head Coach: Ryan Konitzer; 9th season (8th at UWSP); 152-129-1 (overall) / 139-104-1 (UWSP)
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 16/7
Starting Position Players Returning/Lost: 6/3
Pitchers with Starting Experience Returning/Lost: 2/2
Pitchers with Saves Returning/Lost: 3/0
Returning All-WIAC: Rachel Baker, Sr., C/INF (2024-Honorable); Morgan Harwood, So., RHP (2024-First/Pitcher of the Year and Newcomer of the Year); Jesse Klicker, Sr., INF (2022-Honorable, 2023-First, 2024-Honorable); Kaitlyn Roberts, So., OF (2024-First); Ashley Zygowski, Jr., RHP (2023-Honorable, 2024-First)
Notable Returning Position Players: Emmie Cibrario, Sr., INF; Sophia Heckendorf, Sr., OF; Trinity Otto, Jr., INF
Notable Returning Pitchers: Caitlin Hartsell, Jr., RHP
UW-Stout
Head Coach: Lakyn Wagoner; 1st season at UWST
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 14/7
Starting Position Players Returning/Lost: 5/4
Pitchers with Starting Experience Returning/Lost: 3/1
Pitchers with Saves Returning/Lost: 1/1
Returning All-WIAC: Payton Dolecki, Jr., OF (2024-Honorable)
Notable Returning Position Players: Alexa Anderson, Sr., SS; Donna D’Addabbo, Jr., DH/1B; Stephanie Kuhn, So., OF/1B
Notable Returning Pitchers: Samantha Bergeon, So., RHP; Anna Blanford, Sr., RHP; Maddie Lambert, Sr., LHP
UW-Whitewater
Head Coach: Brenda Volk; 27th season at UWW; 761-316-5
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 19/7
Starting Position Players Returning/Lost: 8/1
Pitchers with Starting Experience Returning/Lost: 1/2
Pitchers with Saves Returning/Lost: 1/0
Returning All-WIAC: Rhiann Dick, Sr., LHP (2021-Honorable, 2022-First, 2024-Honorable); Brooke Hock, Jr., RHP (2023-First); Taylor Koehler, Jr., 1B (2023-First); Kiarra Kostroski, Sr., UTIL (2023-First, 2024-First); Brooke Mangler, Sr., INF (2022-Honorable); Grace Wickman, Sr., 3B (2023-Honorable, 2024-First)
Notable Returning Position Players: Bella Eggert, Jr., OF; JJ Jakosalem, So., C; Kaitlyn Weidemann, So., INF
Notable Returning Pitchers: Madi DeBennette, So., RHP
