Photo by: David Stluka
Softball signs four for 2016
November 17, 2015 | Softball
Two Wisconsin natives and two Iowans complete softball's incoming class
MADISON, Wis. – Wisconsin softball head coach Yvette Healy struck gold in the 2016-17 signing class. Healy and the rest of the softball coaching staff will bring in four top-notch softball players, including the 2015 Wisconsin Gatorade Player of the Year and some of the Midwest's top talent, to Madison next fall.
"The class of 2016 is filled with some of the top Midwest talent in the country," Healy said. "Anytime you can sign two prolific, first-team, all-state Wisconsin kids, like Kayla Konwent and Jordan Little, exciting things are happening in the state. Kate Menz and Sydney Lawson are two of the top athletes to emerge from the state of Iowa.
"This class has the competitive drive, work ethic and character-driven players to move the program forward."
Kayla Konwent
Offensive powerhouse and Salem, native Kayla Konwent is someone to be excited about. Konwent, the No. 19 ranked player on FloSoftball's top 100, is coming in as the 2015 Wisconsin Gatorade Player of the Year and a 2015 FloSoftball first team All-American. Konwent was also named the 2013-14 and 2014-2015 Division 1 Softball Player of the Year by the Wisconsin Fastpitch Softball Coaches Association.
Konwent broke her school record for most home runs (21), most RBIs (49), slugging percentage (1.494), on base percentage (.767) and most walks (48) in a single season. Even more impressively, her 21 home runs and 48 walks set a state record for most in a season. Konwent was also Westosha Central's softball MVP for three consecutive seasons. She was the 2015 Southern Lakes Conference Athlete of the Year, 2014 Southern Lakes Conference co-Athlete of the Year, a 2015 all-conference catcher, 2014 all-conference infielder and 2013 all-conference infielder. Konwent was also a two-time state champion in 2013 and 2015, leading her team to a state runner-up title in 2014. She was also named the Journal Sentinel Softball Player of the year two consecutive years in 2014 and 2015.
Konwent also shines off the field and in the classroom. She was named to the high honor roll, was awarded the Outstanding Character Award, the Peace Mentor Nominee award and a Certificate of Excellence in academics.
Healy on Konwent: "The University of Wisconsin is thrilled to welcome Wisconsin Gatorade Player of the Year, Kayla Konwent to the Badger Softball family. Kayla is one of the most prolific offensive players that we've ever recruited. She has true power, she's competitive, and she's a winner. Kayla's work-ethic, confidence, and leadership will help her become one of the most decorated student-athletes to ever compete for the Badgers. We've seen Kayla win multiple state championships for Westosha High School, and win national tournaments for Gerry Quinn's Illinois Chill organization. We can't wait for Kayla Konwent to make history with the Badgers."
Kaitlyn Menz
Prolific pitcher Kaitlyn Menz looks to make an immediate impact with the Badgers next fall. Menz is a four-year all-conference player with 504 career strikeouts and a stifling 1.69 ERA her junior year. She was a State 5A participant and second-team all-division as a sophomore. The Waukee, Iowa, native was award first-team All-Central Iowa Conference accolades her freshman year as well as third team all-state honors. After her State 5A appearance as a sophomore, the second-team all-division junior Menz returned again and left as a champion.
Menz is also a member of the National Honor Society and a four-year all-academic winner.
Healy on Menz: "Kate Menz will help carry on the tradition of outstanding Iowa talent joining the Badgers. Kate is a gifted pitcher, with great Midwest values. She helped lead her club team, Greg Dickle's Iowa Premiere Black, to a second-place finish at PGF Nationals this summer. Her competitive drive and talent will help her make an immediate impact."
Sydney Lawson
Solon, Iowa, native Sydney Lawson joins Kaitlyn Menz and the Badgers as one of the two Iowa signees in this year's class. An ultra-aggressive base runner, Lawson led Class 3A in runs scored and steals in 2015 while hitting .552 and led the Spartans to the state title after finishing as the runner-up the year before. She also collected first-team all-conference honors, first-team all-state accolades and was named to the all-tournament team her junior year. Â As a sophomore, Lawson was first-team all-conference and third-team all-state.
A versatile four-sport athlete, Lawson also collected letters in soccer, track and basketball.
Healy on Lawson: "Sydney Lawson brings speed, competitiveness and grit to the Badgers. She is one of the fastest, toughest outfielders from the state of Iowa. Sydney is a run-scorer. She caught our eye, competing for Merle Miller's Southeast Iowa All-Stars. She finds a way to get on base, cause havoc on the base paths and put runs on the board for her team. It's always exciting when you can find great speed kids that are physical around the bases. Sydney will be force in our offense."
Jordan Little
Wisconsin standout shortstop, Jordan Little, completes Healy's 2016 class. A native of Hudson, Little joins Kayla Konwent as one of the two Wisconsin natives in the incoming class. In 2013, she led her team to a regional championship and was named second-team all-conference. As a freshman, sophomore and junior she was named first-team all-conference, first-team all-district and first-team all-state. She has led her team in batting average all three years and posted a .558 average and .667 on base percentage in 2015.
As a freshman and a junior, she led her team in home runs, going yard 21 times in her freshman and junior years and led the team in RBIs. She also pitched in high school and holds an ERA of 1.72, averaging more than one strikeout per inning.
Little played club softball for Lady Lightning Gold Midwest under Coach Michelle Harrison.
In addition to playing softball, Little also lettered in basketball and has been a member of the "A" Honor Roll since the seventh grade. She was named to the academic all-conference team as a junior and is a member of the National Honor Society. Her older sister, Kendra, plays softball at Concordia University Wisconsin.
Healy on Little: "Jordan Little is the ultimate Wisconsin recruit. We love to recruit athletes who love the Badgers. Her pride for the University and her home state shines through when you see Jordan compete. We can't wait to see Jordan wear the motion W! For years, our staff got to work with Jordan at camps, seeing her grow from a nice athlete into an outstanding shortstop. She's strong, athletic, and an outstanding person. We know that Jordan will thrive in our program."
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"The class of 2016 is filled with some of the top Midwest talent in the country," Healy said. "Anytime you can sign two prolific, first-team, all-state Wisconsin kids, like Kayla Konwent and Jordan Little, exciting things are happening in the state. Kate Menz and Sydney Lawson are two of the top athletes to emerge from the state of Iowa.
"This class has the competitive drive, work ethic and character-driven players to move the program forward."
Kayla Konwent
Offensive powerhouse and Salem, native Kayla Konwent is someone to be excited about. Konwent, the No. 19 ranked player on FloSoftball's top 100, is coming in as the 2015 Wisconsin Gatorade Player of the Year and a 2015 FloSoftball first team All-American. Konwent was also named the 2013-14 and 2014-2015 Division 1 Softball Player of the Year by the Wisconsin Fastpitch Softball Coaches Association.
Konwent broke her school record for most home runs (21), most RBIs (49), slugging percentage (1.494), on base percentage (.767) and most walks (48) in a single season. Even more impressively, her 21 home runs and 48 walks set a state record for most in a season. Konwent was also Westosha Central's softball MVP for three consecutive seasons. She was the 2015 Southern Lakes Conference Athlete of the Year, 2014 Southern Lakes Conference co-Athlete of the Year, a 2015 all-conference catcher, 2014 all-conference infielder and 2013 all-conference infielder. Konwent was also a two-time state champion in 2013 and 2015, leading her team to a state runner-up title in 2014. She was also named the Journal Sentinel Softball Player of the year two consecutive years in 2014 and 2015.
Konwent also shines off the field and in the classroom. She was named to the high honor roll, was awarded the Outstanding Character Award, the Peace Mentor Nominee award and a Certificate of Excellence in academics.
Healy on Konwent: "The University of Wisconsin is thrilled to welcome Wisconsin Gatorade Player of the Year, Kayla Konwent to the Badger Softball family. Kayla is one of the most prolific offensive players that we've ever recruited. She has true power, she's competitive, and she's a winner. Kayla's work-ethic, confidence, and leadership will help her become one of the most decorated student-athletes to ever compete for the Badgers. We've seen Kayla win multiple state championships for Westosha High School, and win national tournaments for Gerry Quinn's Illinois Chill organization. We can't wait for Kayla Konwent to make history with the Badgers."
Kaitlyn Menz
Prolific pitcher Kaitlyn Menz looks to make an immediate impact with the Badgers next fall. Menz is a four-year all-conference player with 504 career strikeouts and a stifling 1.69 ERA her junior year. She was a State 5A participant and second-team all-division as a sophomore. The Waukee, Iowa, native was award first-team All-Central Iowa Conference accolades her freshman year as well as third team all-state honors. After her State 5A appearance as a sophomore, the second-team all-division junior Menz returned again and left as a champion.
Menz is also a member of the National Honor Society and a four-year all-academic winner.
Healy on Menz: "Kate Menz will help carry on the tradition of outstanding Iowa talent joining the Badgers. Kate is a gifted pitcher, with great Midwest values. She helped lead her club team, Greg Dickle's Iowa Premiere Black, to a second-place finish at PGF Nationals this summer. Her competitive drive and talent will help her make an immediate impact."
Sydney Lawson
Solon, Iowa, native Sydney Lawson joins Kaitlyn Menz and the Badgers as one of the two Iowa signees in this year's class. An ultra-aggressive base runner, Lawson led Class 3A in runs scored and steals in 2015 while hitting .552 and led the Spartans to the state title after finishing as the runner-up the year before. She also collected first-team all-conference honors, first-team all-state accolades and was named to the all-tournament team her junior year. Â As a sophomore, Lawson was first-team all-conference and third-team all-state.
A versatile four-sport athlete, Lawson also collected letters in soccer, track and basketball.
Healy on Lawson: "Sydney Lawson brings speed, competitiveness and grit to the Badgers. She is one of the fastest, toughest outfielders from the state of Iowa. Sydney is a run-scorer. She caught our eye, competing for Merle Miller's Southeast Iowa All-Stars. She finds a way to get on base, cause havoc on the base paths and put runs on the board for her team. It's always exciting when you can find great speed kids that are physical around the bases. Sydney will be force in our offense."
Jordan Little
Wisconsin standout shortstop, Jordan Little, completes Healy's 2016 class. A native of Hudson, Little joins Kayla Konwent as one of the two Wisconsin natives in the incoming class. In 2013, she led her team to a regional championship and was named second-team all-conference. As a freshman, sophomore and junior she was named first-team all-conference, first-team all-district and first-team all-state. She has led her team in batting average all three years and posted a .558 average and .667 on base percentage in 2015.
As a freshman and a junior, she led her team in home runs, going yard 21 times in her freshman and junior years and led the team in RBIs. She also pitched in high school and holds an ERA of 1.72, averaging more than one strikeout per inning.
Little played club softball for Lady Lightning Gold Midwest under Coach Michelle Harrison.
In addition to playing softball, Little also lettered in basketball and has been a member of the "A" Honor Roll since the seventh grade. She was named to the academic all-conference team as a junior and is a member of the National Honor Society. Her older sister, Kendra, plays softball at Concordia University Wisconsin.
Healy on Little: "Jordan Little is the ultimate Wisconsin recruit. We love to recruit athletes who love the Badgers. Her pride for the University and her home state shines through when you see Jordan compete. We can't wait to see Jordan wear the motion W! For years, our staff got to work with Jordan at camps, seeing her grow from a nice athlete into an outstanding shortstop. She's strong, athletic, and an outstanding person. We know that Jordan will thrive in our program."
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