The 2026 Minnesota College Athletic Conference (MCAC) softball season is moving into divisional play, and the 10 teams competing this year will be battling for one of the coveted six qualifying spots in the NJCAA Region 13 Tournament. Three teams from each division will qualify for the postseason, along with the two DIII teams (NDSCS and DC-Bottineau) from the MonDak Conference.
MCAC softball competes at the NJCAA Division III level and is divided into a North and South division.
In the North Division, Central Lakes College returns several talented players from a team that won the MCAC North Division in 2025. Minnesota North College - Itasca, Minnesota North College - Rainy River, Northland Community and Technical College, and Minnesota North College - Vermilion should be in the hunt for one of the three postseason bids from the North Division. Minnesota North College - Mesabi Range and Minnesota North College - Hibbing did not field a team this season.
The South Division also has five teams competing for the three South Division postseason bids. St. Cloud Technical and Community College has a strong returning class and should finish at the top of the division. Rochester Community and Technical College should see strong pitching from Zoey Clark, which will give SCTCC a run for the conference title. Minnesota West Community and Technical College, Ridgewater College, and Anoka-Ramsey Community College each have talented new players who will make this division extremely competitive during April. Minnesota State Community and Technical College did not field a team this season.
Below, the coaches shared their thoughts on the 2026 season.
Be sure to follow @MCACSports and @NJCAASoftball on Twitter for the latest in MCAC and NJCAA two-year college softball news, rankings and season information.
For the MCAC Softball home page, click here or go to https://mcacsports.org/sports/sball/index.
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Minnesota College Athletic Conference2026 Softball Preview
North Division(listed in order based on the MCAC Coaches' Poll) |
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#1 - Central Lakes College
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Head Coach: Ray Austin, 10 years at Central Lakes College Overall Record: 193-118 Coaching Staff: Carlie Sweet, assistant coach; Ashley Preiss, assistant coach; Sydnee Johnson, assistant coach; Sierra Selfridge, assistant coach; and Ryanne Ritchey, athletic trainer Top returning players: Morgan Kloss, Princeton, MN, INF/P Megan Hattenberger, Moose Lake, MN, INF Lily Roehl, Milaca, MN, INF Cali Cross, Mankato, MN, UTIL Top incoming/new players: Joze Tautges, Brainerd, MN, P/INF Grace Rust, Bloomington, MN, OF Madi Molitor, Cold Spring, MN, OF Comments from Coach Austin: "Finding quality innings in the circle will be the key this year. We have a solid defense and are hoping for a good offensive team." |
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#2 - Minnesota North College - Itasca
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Head Coach: Kayla Swanson, 2nd year at Minnesota North College - Itasca Overall Record: 19-12 Coaching Staff: Taylor Shepard, assistant coach; and Madison Shepard, assistant coach Top returning players: Addison Linder, Grand Rapids, MN, RHP Camille Parenteau, Aitkin, MN, CF Hailey Ridgeway, Frederic, WI, 2B Karley Sokoloski, Grand Rapids, MN, UTIL Bradee Burish, Caddott, WI, 3B Top incoming/new players: Kalli Fjeld, Floodwood, MN, SS Bella Dunham, Hill City, MN, C Sophia DeNucci, Coleraine, MN Comments from Coach Swanson: "We have a strong group of returners who are hungry for more after last season. Addison Linder is back again with solid pitching and even stronger hitting. Our outfield is going to look better this year, and we're excited to welcome a core group of freshmen."
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#3 - Minnesota North College - Rainy River
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Head Coach: Shelby Nosan, 4 years at Minnesota North College - Rainy River Overall Record: Coaching Staff: Teah Goulet, assistant coach; and Matthew Collins, assistant coach Top returning players: Baylee Castillo, Gypsum, CO, 3B Taniya Hamilton, Waskom, TX, 1B Raegan Hansen, Preston, ID, UTIL Top incoming/new players: Ellemieke Vermeulen, Netherlands, LHP EllaGrace Kellerby, Grand Junction, CO, RHP Comments from Coach Nosan: "We are looking forward to the 2026 season with a talented group of athletes!" |
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#4 - Northland Community & Technical College
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Head Coach: Rick Looker, 1st year at Northland Community & Technical College Overall Record: 0-0 Coaching Staff: Abby Flaagan, assistant coach Top returning players: Kaydence Augustine, Newfolden, MN, RHP/INF Liza Bjerklie, Thief River Falls, MN, C/INF Kora Sorter, Thief River Falls, MN, INF Top incoming/new players: Aubrey Hensrud, Grand Forks, ND, RHP/INF Ava Hensrud, Grand Forks, ND, C/INF/OF Jacey Wojochowski, Greenbush, MN, INF/OF Comments from Coach Looker: "We will be a young team with three returning players in a competitive division. There are a lot of unknowns for us, but I do like our energy and cohesiveness as a whole."
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#5 - Minnesota North College - Vermilion
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Head Coach: Ryan Zyla, 1st year at Minnesota North College - Vermilion Overall Record: 0-0 Coaching Staff: Zuriel Cook, assistant coach; and Aaron Bender, assistant coach Top returning players: Kiera Waller, 1B Makayla Mihajlovich, 3B Top incoming/new players: Adriana Pena, SS/P Brooklyn Hager, P/UTIL Autumn Walker, CF/P Comments from Coach Zyla: "I'm very excited as a first-year coach to build the program and get better each day. We have some good new talent, but we know this league is great competition."
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Minnesota College Athletic Conference2026 Softball Preview
South Division(listed in order based on the MCAC Coaches' Poll)
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#1 - St. Cloud Technical & Community College
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Head Coach: Greg Thorstad, 15 years at St. Cloud Technical and Community College Overall Record: 408-191 Coaching Staff: Jamie Leither, base coach Top returning players: Maggie Wozniak, Plymouth, MN, C Kenzie Hill, Chaska, MN, SS Emma Shelton, Proctor, MN, P Rhianna Buhl, Browerville, MN, OF Morgan Marquette, Annandale, MN, 3B Top incoming/new players: Keeli Doran, Owatonna, MN, INF Addie Breth, Sauk Rapids, MN, INF Rachel Kossan, Staples, MN, OF Comments from Coach Thorstad: "We have a strong returning class. We need them to be leaders. Defense will be important, and we need our incoming players to contribute."
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#2 - Rochester Community & Technical College
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Head Coach: Chad Schmitz, 3 years at Rochester Community & Technical College Overall Record: 5-28 Coaching Staff: Kaitlyn Fischer, assistant/pitching coach; Damien Sara, assistant/hitting coach; and Bailey Monson, volunteer coach Top returning players: Jayda Bednarek, Marshall, MN, SS/2B Holly Flom, Ada, MN, C/1B Zoey Clark, Viroqua, WI, RHP Ivette Mendoza, Kenyon, MN, 3B/OF Eleyna Haugerud, Lanesboro, MN, OF Top incoming/new players: KK Hemming, Duluth, MN, UTIL/OF Keiara Daneil, Eau Claire, WI, OF Ella Bergan, Cresco, IA, 1B/OF Comments from Coach Schmitz: "We're excited about the direction of our program this season, especially with the core group of returning players who bring experience, leadership, and a competitive edge to the field. Our pitching staff continues to be a major strength—our returners have logged meaningful innings, shown tremendous growth, and set the tone with their work ethic and composure. Offensively, we're returning several key hitters who have proven they can produce in big moments. Their ability to drive the ball, work deep counts, and create pressure on opposing defenses gives us confidence that our lineup will be balanced and dangerous from top to bottom. This group has invested heavily in the offseason, and it shows. We're looking forward to building on last year's momentum and competing at a high level."
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#3 - Minnesota West Community and Technical College |
Head Coach: Keith Swenson, 4 years at Minnesota West Community & Technical College Overall Record: 20-27 Coaching Staff: None Top returning players: Cassie Boyum, Peterson, MN, OF Kya Alderson, Lake Benton, MN, P/INF Gracie Nath, Luverne, MN, P/INF Raya Van Beek, Rock Valley, IA, P/INF Top incoming/new players: Hannah McNab, Worthington, MN, INF Comments from Coach Swenson: "We plan on having lots of fun and making memories that will last forever!"
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#4 - Ridgewater College
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Head Coach: Jordyn Swoboda, 1st year at Ridgewater College Overall Record: 0-0 Coaching Staff: Morgan Flann, assistant coach Top returning players: Neveah Rahm, Fairmont, MN, RHP/1B Top incoming/new players: Kylie Pauls, Paynesville, MN, INF Hannah Magnuson, Willmar, MN, INF Madison Norsten, Willmar, MN, INF Mallory Johnson, New London, MN, C Aly Wendlandt, New London, MN, INF Comments from Coach Swoboda: "We're excited to have Neveah Rahm returning to the circle, along with a group of strong first-year players who bring energy and competitiveness to our team."
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#5 - Anoka-Ramsey Community College
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Head Coach: Brian Holcomb, 1st year at Anoka-Ramsey Community College Overall Record: 0-0 Coaching Staff: Mike Johson, Assistant Coach Top returning players: None Top incoming/new players: Maddy Abernathy, Centennial, MN, 3B Francie Gregor, Forest Lake, MN Alex Rysdam, Braham, MN Comments from Coach Holcomb: "We have a young team that is ready to get back on the field and compete."
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About the Minnesota College Athletic Conference
The Minnesota College Athletic Conference is the organizational body for NJCAA-affiliated two-year technical and community college athletic programs in the Minnesota State system. The mission of the Minnesota College Athletic Conference is to advance intercollegiate athletics by providing an engaging and supportive environment for success of our student athletes and competition among member institutions. The MCAC is committed to the guiding principles of encouraging the development and success of student athletes, promoting the integrity, honesty and loyalty to member schools as well as upholding the sustainability of conference athletic programs.