Many local softball players made a name for themself this season through excellence on the diamond – with many making return or first time trips to the 2026 WIAA state softball tournament in Madison.
Now is the time to recognize some of those athletes that made a monumental impact on their teams and stood as some of the most productive players around Marshfield, Stevens Point, Wausau and Wisconsin Rapids for the 2026 season.
Here is a look at 57 Central Wisconsin high school softball stars that stole the show in 2026, and earned at least first-team all-conference recognition.
Shelby Spata, Columbus Catholic: Spata capped her senior season off by capturing the 2026 Cloverbelt East player of the year award and as a D4/D5 second team WFSCA all-state honoree, capping off a dominant multi-sport career at Columbus Catholic.
Izzy Holz, Columbus Catholic: Holz finished 2026 earning a first team all-conference selection as a sophomore in the Cloverbelt East conference.
Abby Wojcik, Columbus Catholic: Wojcik snagged first team all-conference honors in the Cloverbelt East conference in 2026 as a junior.
Callie Bell, Columbus Catholic: As a sophomore, Bell reached all-conference honors in the Cloverbelt East league in 2026.
Braeleigh Suda, Loyal/Greenwood: Suda capped off her softball career with Loyal earning a first team all-conference selection in the Cloverbelt East conference.
Liv Lucas, Loyal/Greenwood: Lucas finished her career as a first team all-conference honoree in the Cloverbelt East league in 2026.
Emerson Ormond, Neillsville/Granton: Ormond was one of two Neillsville/Granton selections to earn a first team all-conference honor in the Cloverbelt East league.
Riley Hemp, Neillsville/Granton: Hemp reached first team all-conference honors in the Cloverbelt east league as a sophomore in 2026.
Ema Schultz, Spencer: Schultz was the lone Spencer player to earn a first team all-conference selection in the Cloverbelt East league in 2026.
Sam Nooyen, Amherst: Nooyen earned a first team all-conference selection in the Central Wisconsin-East conference in 2026.
Rory Salvesen, Wittenberg-Birnamwood: University of Minnesota commit, Salvesen, capped off her high school playing career by snagging the 2026 Central Wisconsin-East player of the year nod.
Brieleigh Ladika Wittenberg-Birnamwood: Ladika earned a first team all-conference selection in the Central Wisconsin-East league in 2026.
Jayda Moenke, Wittenberg-Birnamwood: Shifting between catcher and third base, Moenke capped her junior season off by earning a first team all-conference selection in the Central Wisconsin-East league.
Mya Dernbach, Almond-Bancroft: Dernbach helped Almond-Bancroft win their first state title ever, earning a first team all-conference selection in the Central Wisconsin-South.
Brooklyn Berrens, Iola-Scandinavia: Behind the plate for Iola-Scandinavia, Berrens capped off a strong year, earning a first team all-conference selection in the Central Wisconsin- East league.
Braelyn Jueds, Iola-Scandinavia: Jueds earned a first team all-conference selection in the Central Wisconsin-East league in 2026.
Lana Vollert, Pittsville: Vollert made appearances all over the diamond for Pittsville en route to a first team all-conference selection in the Central Wisconsin-South league.
Addi Gagas, Rosholt: The lone Hornet on the list, Gagas earned a first team all-conference selection as a shortstop and pitcher in the Central Wisconsin -South.
Amelia Martini, Pacelli: Martini picked up where she left off last season, once again finding herself on Central Wisconsin- South all conference team, this time as a first team honoree.
Kaydyn Nelson, Pacelli: Nelson finished as a first-team all conference selection in the Central Wisconsin-South.
Riya Ceballos, Almond-Bancroft: Ceballos picked up where she left off last season, helping Almond-Bancroft win the state title and earning the Central Wisconsin-South Player of the Year nod. She was also a WFSCA all-state selection.
Aaliyah Newby, Almond-Bancroft: Newby was a key part of Almond-Bancroft’s first-ever state championship, earning a first team all-conference selection in the Central Wisconsin-South league.
Sophia Chapa, Almond-Bancroft: Chapa helped Almond-Bancroft win its first-ever state title, earning a first team all-conference selection in the Central Wisconsin-South.
Brinley Kornack, Athens: Kornack earned a first team all-conference selection in the Marwood North league in 2026.
Karly Eckert, Athens: In 2026, Eckert was a WFSCA all-state honorable mention and a first team all-conference selection in the Marwood North league.
Jaelin Switlick, Athens: Switlick finished as a first team all-conference selection in the WVC in 2026.
Ari Cavanaugh, Assumption: Cavanaugh reached first team all-conference status in the Marwood South in 2026.
Danika Blomberg, Auburndale: Blomberg earned a first team all-conference selection in the Marawood South league in 2026.
Morgan Griesbach, Auburndale: Griesbach capped off her junior year earning the Marawood South Player of the year nod and becoming a D4/D5 second team WFSCA all-state selection.
Breleigh Grimm, Auburndale: Grimm earned a first team all-conference selection in the Marawood South in 2026.
Jorja Knetter, Edgar: Knetter finished as the lone Wildcat to earn a spot on the first team all-conference list in the Marawood South.
Allison Podjaski, Marathon: Podjaski finished as a first team all-conference selection in the Marawood South.
Danica Staus, Marathon: Staus earned a first team all-conference selection in the Marawood South league in 2026.
Madison Keene, Newman Catholic: Keene finished as the only Fighting Cardinal to earn a spot on the Marawood South first team all-conference list.
Tria Tubbs, Stratford: Tubbs earned a first team all-conference selection in the Marawood South league in 2026.
Carly Pankratz, Stratford: Pankratz finished as a first team all-conference selection in the Marawood South league.
Taelyn Jirschele, Mosinee: Northwestern softball commit Jirschele, returned from a knee injury that required surgery and earned a first team all-conference selection in the Great Northern conference and a D2/D3 WFSCA all-state selection.
Rylee Hraby, Medford: Hraby dominated the circle en route to a WIAA state tournament for Medford and a Great Northern Player of the Year nod for her. She also finished as a first team D2/D3 WFSCA all-state selection.
Paetyn Jirschele, Mosinee: Jirschele earned a first team all-conference selection in the Great Northern league as a sophomore and a D2/D3 second team WFSCA all-state selection in 2026.
Zayleah Leonhardt, Medford:Leonhardt earned a first team all-conference selection in the Great Northern league and finished as a second team D2/D3 WFSCA all-state selection. .
Addyson Henrich, Mosinee: Henrich finished her junior season as a first team all-conference honoree in the Great Northern conference and second team D2/D3 WFSCA all-state selection. .
Finley Arndt, Medford: Arndt earned a first team all-conference selection in the Great Northern league in 2026.
Addison Brahmer, Medford: Brahmer finished 2026 as a first team all-conference selection in the Great Northern conference.
Mackenzie Herdt, Merrill: Herdt capped off her junior season as the only Merrill player to earn a first team all-conference selection in the Great Northern conference in 2026.
Averi Petta, Tomahawk: Petta earned a first team all-conference selection in the Great Northern league as a junior.
Megan Treu, Mosinee: As a sophomore, Treu finished 2026 as a first team all-conference selection in the Great Northern conference.
Callie Diekhus, Stevens Point: Diekhus finished her sophomore campaign earning a first team all-conference selection in the Wisconsin Valley Conference.
Sophia Abundiz, Stevens Point: Abundiz earned a first team all-conference selection in the WVC as a sophomore.
Sydney Holberg, Wisconsin Rapids Lincoln: Holberg earned a first team all-conference selection in the WVC in 2026.
Taylor Deffner, Wausau West: Deffner earned a first team all conference selection in the WVC in 2026. Deffner
Molly Fox, Marshfield: In the circle, Fox emerged as one the more dominant arms in the area, capping off her sophomore season off as WFSCA all-state honorable mention and first team Division 1 all-conference selection in the WVC.
Kaitlyn Butler, Wausau West: In the circle, Butler earned a first team all-conference selection in the WVC in 2026.
Avery Kelnhofer, Marshfield: Kelnhofer capped off her junior season as a first team all-conference selection in the WVC.
Jordan Roth, Stevens Point: Roth earned a first team all-conference selection in the WVC in 2026.
Aubree Itzen, Stevens Point: Itzen capped off the 2026 season by earning the WVC player of the year nod.
Addi Peskie, Stevens Point: Peskie earned a first team all-conference selection in the WVC in 2026.
Maddie Hoppe, D.C. Everest: As a junior, Hoppe finished as a first team all-conference selection in the WVC and a first team Division 1 WFSCA all-state selection.
Contact or send game stats/info to Sports Reporter Alfred Smith III at alfred.smith@usatodayco.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @AlfredS_III.
This article originally appeared on Wausau Daily Herald: 57 Central Wisconsin HS softball stars that stole the show in 2026
Reporting by Alfred Smith III, Wausau Daily Herald / Wausau Daily Herald
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Alfred Smith III, Wausau Daily Herald | USA TODAY Network
