IOWA CITY, Iowa – Nine softball standouts have signed to play softball at the University of Iowa, head coach Renee Gillispie announced Monday. Jalen Adams, Tory Bennett, Sterling Berndt, Avery Jackson, Echo Mattiello, Skylinn Pogue, Kelsey Winters have signed national letters of intent, and Bailey Olreich and Anna Streff have accepted written offers of admissions.
“I am very excited about this recruiting class,” said Gillispie. “They are a versatile group and will enhance our roster. We can’t wait to welcome them into the Hawkeye family.”
Of Iowa’s nine signees, five hail from Iowa, one from Arizona, one from Missouri and one from Florida.
Jalen Adams
RHP | Fort Dodge, Iowa | Fort Dodge
- Three-time first-team all-state honoree
- 5A state champion
- Tallied a 25-1 record her junior year with 219 strikeouts
Tory Bennett
UTL | Fort Dodge, Iowa | Fort Dodge
- Three-time first-team all-conference selection
- Two-time third-team all-state selection
- 5A state champion
Sterling Berndt
LHP | Corydon, Iowa | Wayne Community
- Three-time first-team all-state selection
- 2021 KMALand POI Pitcher of the Year and All State Player of the Year
- Had a 20-5 record her junior year with 322 strikeouts
Avery Jackson
IF/OF | Kankakee, Illinois | Kankakee
- Two-time all-conference and all-area selection
- 2021 all-state selection
Echo Mattiello
OF | Mesa, Arizona | Red Mountain
- 2021 6A Region Player of the Year
- 2021 first-team all-conference selection
- 2019 all-region selection
Bailey Olerich
OF | Tiffin, Iowa | Clear Creek-Amana
- Two-time WAMAC softball all-conference selection
- 2021 Prep Sports Regional Area Softball Team Breakthrough Player of the Year
- Led conference in batting average, hits and stolen bases in 2020 and 2021
Skylinn Pogue
IF/C | Eureka, Missouri | Eureka
- First-team all-district selection
- First-team all-conference honoree
- Helped lead team to 25-2 record and third-place finish at state tournament.
Anna Streff
IF/UTL | Marion, Iowa | Linn-Mar
- Won two USSSA national titles with club team
- Club team finished third and fifth at USA Elite Select World Championships
- Top eight finish for club team in Triple Crown Fireworks in Colorado
Kelsey Winters
RHP/IF | Tampa, Florida | Newsome
- 7A first-team all-state pitcher
- 2021 first-team Western Conference pitcher
- Had a 1.76 ERA over 107.2 innings pitched in 2021