Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

For the better part of the last decade Regina made a habit of spending the month of July qualifying for the state softball tournament and putting players on all state teams.

The Regals returned to its old ways this month.

Regina reached the state tournament for the first time since 2018 last week and on Wednesday reaped the rewards as three Regals earned all-state honors from the Iowa Girls Coaches Association.

Senior Annie Gahan and sophomore Courtney Kessler were both named to the Class 2A second team while junior Emma Nibaur was a third-team pick after the trio helped Regina reach the state tournament where it went 1-1.

The Regina trio was joined on the 2A all-state team by West Branch senior outfielder Nicki Henson who was a first-team selection.

Kessler led the state with a .641 batting average and ranked fourth in all classes with a .671 on-base percentage.

The sophomore catcher had 13 extra-base hits, three home runs and a team-high 27 RBI while failing to strike out in 64 at bats.

Gahan capped a stellar career by hitting .383 with a team-leading 17 extra-base hits.

The senior shortstop had 12 doubles, three home runs and drove in 24 runs while scoring 25 times.

Nibaur hit .320 with two home runs, 15 RBI and a team-high 30 runs but did her best work in the circle where she posted a 17-7 record, 2.02 ERA and .96 WHIP while striking out 142 in 159 1/3 innings pitched.

Henson earned first-team all-state honors after a senior season in which she hit a career-high .70 while leading West Branch in hits (65), runs (39) and stolen bases (32).

A five-year starter, Henson is a career .492 hitter and has led West Branch in hits and runs each of the past five seasons.

Henson closes her career with 246 hits, 124 stolen bases and 163 runs scored.

Iowa Girls Coaches Association All-State Softball

Class 2A

First team – Chloe Wells, Sr., Wilton; Kylee Sanders, Sr., Louisa-Muscatine; Skylar Benesh, Fr., North Linn; Molly Blomgren, Sr., Van Meter; Josie McCuddin, Jr., Interstate 35; Alli Boyle, Sr., Earlham; Kylee Sallee, Sr., Hudson; Hailey Rosonke, Fr., South Hardin; Kaylea Fessler, Jr., Central Springs; Emily Meyer, Soph., North Union; Ellie Flannagan, Soph., North Linn; Olivia Von Bank, Jr., North Union; Neveah Hildebrandt, Sr., Northeast; Amber McKinney, Sr., Pleasantville; Cooper Klaahsen, Soph., Central Springs; Sam Nielsen, Jr., North Union; Payton Ganzer, Jr., Wilton; Summer Pasutti, Sr., Interstate 35; Natalie Harrill, Jr., Pella Christian; Nicki Henson, Sr., West Branch; Peyton Souhrada, Jr., Wilton; Madisyn Kelley, Jr., Central Springs

Second team – Kaitlyn Sommerfelt, Sr., North Linn; Courtney Kessler, Soph., Regina; Alexis Ehlers, Sr., Northeast; Ella Pierce, Sr., Underwood; Madeline Janssen, Sr., Earlham; Macy Blomgren, Jr., Van Meter; Taylor Kvale, Jr., Dike-New Hartford; Ella Engel, Jr., Hudson; Sydney Gardner, Soph., Columbus; Avery Coyle, Jr., West Sioux; Cassie Beadle, Jr., North Union; Jaydn Case, Jr., Hinton; Chelsea Huff, Sr., Van Buren; Annie Gahan, Sr., Regina; McKenna Hohenadel, Jr., Louisa-Muscatine; Josie Sowers, Sr., Pleasantville; Kylie Doty, Jr., Colfax-Mingo; Faith Owens, Sr., South Hardin; Emri Agre, Soph., Pella Christian; Kenzie Schon, Jr., Carroll Kuemper; Kendra Casey, Soph., Sioux Central; Jill Smith, Jr., North Linn.

Third team – Ella Sand, Fr., West Central Valley; Reagan Church, Sr., Ogden; Brynnlin Kroymann, Jr., Northeast; Sydney Cook, Sr., Alburnett; Serah Shafer, Jr., Wapello; MaKayla Haynes, Jr., West Monona; Alexa Anderson, Jr., Mount Ayr; Emma Vohs, Jr., Ridge View; Alivia Shultz, Sr., Waterloo Columbus; Devin Simon, Soph., Cascade; Aliyah Lolling, Sr., Wapello; Emma Beck, Jr., Grundy Center; Mia Danielson, Soph., West Sioux; Katie Murphy, Soph., Interstate 35; Isabel Manning, Sr., Van Buren; Mila Johnson, Sr., Wilton; Alexa Anderson, Sr., Mount Ayr; Payton Nolan, Fr., Dike-New Hartford; Emma Nibaur, Jr., Regina; Addy Dean, Jr., Madrid; Abby Pate, Soph., Central Springs; Emma Anderson, Jr., South Central Calhoun

Coach of the year – Chad Spore, North Linn

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