Contact: Chassidy Holloway, Assistant Executive Director, holloway@midwestconference.org
 
GRINNELL, Iowa – Defending Midwest Conference (MWC) champion Illinois College has been selected as the preseason favorite to repeat by the league’s head coaches in the 2022 Softball Preseason Coaches’ Poll. 
 
The Lady Blues garnered seven first-place votes and a total of 63 points to secure the top spot in the poll. Last season, Illinois College won its first MWC Softball Championship and made its first NCAA Tournament appearance.
 
Lake Forest College picked up two first-place votes and 58 points to place second, followed by Cornell College in third with 49 points.
 
Grinnell College received 36 points for a fourth-place finish, followed by Beloit College with 33 for fifth.
 
Rounding out the poll is Lawrence University (29), Monmouth College (28), Ripon College (17), and Knox College (11).
 
The 2022 softball season opens today, February 24, with Knox and Lawrence in non-conference action, while league play begins April 2.
 
The 2022 MWC Softball four-team tournament is scheduled for May 6-7, 2022. The MWC Champion will host the double-elimination tournament as the field of teams will compete for the tournament title and the league’s automatic qualifier to the NCAA Tournament.
 
Full preseason results and quick facts for all nine teams can be found below.
 
2022 MWC Softball Preseason Poll Results – Team (first-place votes), points
1. Illinois College (7) - 63 points
2. Lake Forest College (2) - 58 points
3. Cornell College - 49 points
4. Grinnell College - 36 points
5. Beloit College - 33 points
6. Lawrence University - 29 points
7. Monmouth College - 28 points
8. Ripon College - 17 points
9. Knox College - 11 points
 
Beloit College Buccaneers
Head Coach: Kim Zarling (15^th Season)
2021 Season: 16-14 Overall; 7-9 MWC North
All-Conference Returnees: N/A
 
Cornell College Rams
Head Coach: Jackie Sernek (5^th Season)
2021 Season: 13-7 Overall; 8-6 MWC South
All-Conference Returnees: Claire Gugerty (Jr), Zoie Harvey (Jr)
 
Grinnell College Pioneers
Head Coach: Lexy Determan (1^st Season)
2021 Season: 9-7 Overall; 9-7 MWC South
All-Conference Returnees: N/A
 
Illinois College Lady Blues
Head Coach: Meghan Roman (10^th Season)
2021 Season: 25-14 Overall; 13-1 MWC South
All-Conference Returnees: Alissa Hodge (Sr), Sydney Hood (Sr), Emma Newton (Sr), Madisyn Webster (Sr)
 
Knox College Prairie Fire
Head Coach: Erin Rutledge (8^th Season)
2021 Season: 4-24 Overall; 3-13 MWC South
All-Conference Returnees: N/A
 
Lake Forest College Foresters
Head Coach: Joe Kinsella (16^th Season)
2021 Season: 26-8 Overall; 13-3 MWC North
All-Conference Returnees: N/A
 
Lawrence University Vikings
Head Coach: Tracy Cromer (2^nd Season)
2021 Season: 7-17 Overall; 6-10 MWC North
All-Conference Returnees: N/A
 
Monmouth College Scots
Head Coach: Alexa McClaughry (2^nd Season)
2021 Season: 6-20 Overall; 5-11 MWC South
All-Conference Returnees: Jessica Pauley (Sr), Calista Warmowski (Jr)
 
Ripon College Red Hawks
Head Coach: Steve Wammer (5^th Season)
2021 Season: 5-28 Overall; 2-13 MWC North
All-Conference Returnees: N/A