Softball Posted a Sensational Season
MEQUON, Wis. – The Concordia Wisconsin softball team soared to new heights in 2023. The Falcons finished the season with a program and conference record for victories in a season at 40-5. Concordia Wisconsin also reached the NCAA Division III Super Regional Tournament for the first time in program history.
The Falcons started the season with challenging competitions with trips to Rhinelander, Wisconsin and Tucson, Arizona, where the Blue and White played six games against teams that qualified for the 2023 NCAA Division III Tournament.
The Falcons posted a sensational season within the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC). Concordia finished with a perfect 23-0 record in the NACC. The Falcons joined the 2015 Aurora Spartans (22-0) as the only teams to finish NACC play undefeated. Concordia Wisconsin then defended its crown in the NACC Tournament with victories over Aurora, Dominican and MSOE to secure its second-straight NACC title.
The Blue and White were honored for their undefeated season with senior Sydney Erdmann, senior Gina Followell and senior Claudia Utz named to the All-NACC First Team and senior Nicki Becker and sophomore Jess Pozezinski named to the All-NACC Honorable Mention.
After reaching the NCAA Tournament Regional Finals in Cleveland, Ohio, in 2022, the Falcons looked to advance even further in 2023. Concordia Wisconsin was sent to Oshkosh, Wisconsin, for the NCAA Tournament. The Falcons opened the tournament with a victory over Wisconsin-Superior, where senior Sydney Erdmann broke the program record with a pair of triples. CUW then picked up a pair of victories over Wisconsin-Oshkosh to claim the first-ever NCAA regional title in any sport. Gina Followell was named the Most Valuable Player of the Oshkosh Regional Tournament. Sydney Erdmann, Claudia Utz and sophomore Madi Wheat were all named to the All-Tournament Team. During the tournament, Gina Followell broke the conference record for career strikeouts and victories in a single season.
The Falcons' season ended in Indiana against the eventual national champion, Trine Thunder.
Concordia Wisconsin brought in multiple honors for a successful season. The National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) honored four Falcons with NFCA All-Region honors. The trio of Gina Followell, Claudia Utz and Sydney Erdmann were all voted to the NFCA All-Region First Team and Jess Pozezinski was named to the All-Region Third Team. The duo of Gina Followell and Claudia Utz also earned NFCA All-American status with Gina Followell earning her third-straight All-America honor and her second-straight appearance on the NFCA All-America First Team and Claudia Utz returning to the NFCA All-America Third Team.
After the record-breaking season, the coaching staff, led by Steve Crook was voted as the NFCA Regional Coaching Staff of the Year and the NACC Coaching Staff of the Year.
The Falcons not only shined on the diamond in 2023, but also the classroom with 23 NACC Scholar-Athletes and four honored as College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District selections in senior Nicki Becker, Sydney Erdmann, Jess Pozezinski and Madi Wheat.
