The Gophers have commitments from two of the standouts, and college decisions are revealed for others.
Pitchers
Madelyn Anthony, North St. Paul, junior. College: undecided
Kendra Behrens, St. Michael-Albertville, junior. College: undecided
Anna Corbid, Stillwater, senior. College: College of St. Benedict
Jordyn Marsh, New Prague, senior. College: Southwest Minnesota State
Avery Muellner, Forest Lake, sophomore. College: undecided
Brooke Nesdahl, Cretin-Derham Hall, junior. College: undecided
Madeline Nutter, Lakeville South, senior. College: St. Cloud State
Riley O’Connell, Centennial, junior. College: undecided
Carter Raymond, Randolph, junior. College: undecided
Sylvia Shromoff, Shakopee, senior. College: South Dakota State
Hannah Tong, Forest Lake, senior. College: MSU Mankato
Catchers
Heidi Barber, White Bear Lake, senior. College: UConn
Cameron Chard, Belle Plaine, senior. College: Minnesota
Sarah Dollerschell, Stillwater, senior. College: Colorado Christian
Katie Klotz, Farmington, senior. College: Concordia (St. Paul)
Lily Treml, Shakopee, senior. College: College of St. Benedict
Fielders
Ariana Princl, Rosemount, 2B/SS, senior. College: Creighton
Nora Brandt, Lakeville North, INF/P, senior. College: Winona State
Addison Coffey, Stillwater, 3B, senior. College: St. Thomas
Lexi Goring, Farmington, OF, junior. College: undecided
Maddy Freking, Anoka, SS, junior. College: St. Thomas
Cece Hansen, Rosemount, OF, senior. College: South Dakota State
Carly Kimmes, Randolph, SS, senior. College: MSU Mankato
Izzy Guttenfelder, Minnetonka, INF, senior. College: St. Benedict
Susie Tollefson, Chanhassen, 3B, junior. College: Augustana
And one beyond-the-Twin-Cities star we cannot overlook
Kylinn Stangl, Mankato East, RHP, junior. College: Minnesota
Two of the players in the 25+1 group are committed to the Gophers for college. Mankato East pitcher Kylinn Stangl, a junior, went 19-3 last season with 149 strikeouts, She passed on offers from such standout programs as Florida State and Washington and committed to play for her home-state program. The Gophers also have a commitment from Belle Plaine catcher Cameron Chard, perhaps the state’s top power hitter. She hit nine home runs with 36 RBI in 2023.
Pat Bowlin became Minnesota’s all-time leader in softball coaching victories when Winona Cotter defeated Caledonia 6-5 on Friday in Winona. The victory, in Cotter’s season opener, was the 803rd for Bowlin, who is in his 40th season as the Cotter coach. He went into the season tied with former New Ulm Cathedral coach Bob Mertz, who had 802 career victories in 39 seasons before retiring in 2018.
Bowlin began his coaching career at St. Bernard’s in St. Paul in 1984 after graduating from St. Thomas. In his eight years at St. Bernard’s, his softball teams made six consecutive trips to the state tournament and won Class 1A state titles in 1985, 1989 and 1990. St. Bernard’s was the runner-up in 1987.
Bowlin has coached Cotter to 11 state tournament berths, winning the Class 2A state title in 2003 and 2006.
Bowlin also has 698 career victories as Cotter’s girls basketball coach. Only three girls basketball coaches in state history have 700 or more career victories. Bowlin was also the Cotter football coach for 10 years.
JOEL RIPPEL
The MSHSL has added a day to the state tournament this year. It will begin Wednesday, June 5, with finals on June 7. In years past, holding a four-class tournament over its normal two-day run meant trying to squeeze 32 games into Day 1 of the tournament (championship and consolation rounds), with the final games commonly beginning after 9 p.m. Adding a third day spaces things out and allows for rest between games. As usual, the softball state tournament will be held at Caswell Field in North Mankato.
