WINONA, Minn. – The Winona State Softball team was selected second in the 2026 NSIC Softball Preseason Coaches' Poll and
Izzy Howe was voted the Preseason Pitcher of the Year.
Bryn Elsenpeter was named the Preseason Player to watch for the Warriors.
WSU garnered 202 points in the 2025 NSIC Softball Preseason Coaches' Poll, putting them right behind Augustana in first place (221 points).
Winona State earned a 42-14 record in the 2025 season, including a second-place finish in the NSIC Conference Tournament. Entering his 27th season with the Warriors, head coach Greg Jones noted, "We are looking forward to building on a successful season from last year. I love the makeup, energy, and connectiveness of this group. We will have to continue to develop and grow throughout the season as our league continues to turn out elite softball teams and tremendous depth of talent. I look forward to the opportunities, growth, and challenges of this season."
Elsenpeter, a senior from Maple Lake, Minn., was selected for the 2025 NSIC All-Tournament Team and during the 2025 regular season collected 41 hits with 13 doubles and nine home runs. Elsenpeter earned a 1.054 OPS and batting average of .320.
Coach Jones on Elsenpeter, "Bryn's passion for the game and leadership on and off the field radiate through her. She is a tone setter for us with her tremendous energy and work ethic. Bryn's influence goes beyond her stats and performance as she elevates the team by modeling integrity, resilience, and a genuine love of the game."
Howe, a Junior from St. Charles, Ill., was selected for the 2025 NSIC All-Tournament Team and during the 2025 regular season started 30 games and pitched 190.2 innings with 207 strikeouts and an ERA of 2.28.
Coach Jones on Howe, "Izzy is a key contributor to what we believe can be a talented and deep pitching staff. Her confidence and determination are essential qualities that have helped lead this team over the past couple of years. She is a fearless competitor who has pitched in a lot of big games and big game moments throughout her career."
Winona State returns to the field on Wednesday, February 11th as the Warriors host Grand View University in Rochester, Minn. at 12:00pm and 2:00pm.
