Contact: Chassidy Holloway, Associate Executive Director, holloway@midwestconference.org
 
GRINNELL, Iowa – Grinnell College was tabbed as the favorite to win the 2024 Midwest Conference (MWC) Softball Championship by a vote of the league’s nine head coaches in this year’s preseason poll.
 
The Pioneers received eight first-place votes and 64 points to claim the top spot. Last season, Grinnell won its first MWC regular season title as co-champions alongside Illinois College. After making its fourth MWC postseason appearance in five years, Grinnell won its first MWC tournament title and made its first NCAA Tournament appearance. 
 
Illinois College finished in second place with 54 points, two points ahead of Lake Forest College, who received one first-place vote and 52 points for third place. 
 
Placing fourth was Cornell College with 44 points, followed by Monmouth College (32), Ripon College (28), Knox College (24), Beloit College (17), and Lawrence University (9), concluding the predicted order of finish. 
 
The 2024 season begins this Friday, February 23, with four of the nine teams in non-conference action, while league play kicks off on Saturday, April 6.
 
The MWC Softball Tournament is slated for Friday, May 10, through Saturday, May 11. The double elimination event will feature the top-four teams in the standings as determined by winning percentage in conference play. The winner will be name tournament champion and received the automatic qualifier to the NCAA Tournament.
 
Full preseason poll results and quick facts for all nine teams can be found below.
 
2024 MWC Softball Preseason Coaches’ Poll
1. Grinnell College (8) – 64 points
2. Illinois College – 54 points
3. Lake Forest College (1) – 52 points
4. Cornell College – 44 points
5. Monmouth College – 32 points
6. Ripon College – 28 points
7. Knox College – 24 points
8. Beloit College – 17 points
9. Lawrence University – 9 points
 
() – indicates first-place votes
*Coaches are not allowed to vote for their own teams.
 
Beloit College Buccaneers
Head Coach: Kim Zarling (17^th Season)
2023 Season: 11-27 Overall; 3-13 MWC
All-Conference Returnees: Angela Donath (Jr)
 
Cornell College Rams
Head Coach: Jackie Sernek (7^th Season)
2023 Season: 14-21 Overall; 9-7 MWC
All-Conference Returnees: N/A
 
Grinnell College Pioneers
Head Coach: Lexy Determan (3^rd Season)
2023 Season: 29-14 Overall; 15-1 MWC
All-Conference Returnees: Kambria Anson (Sr), Samantha Chu (Sr – 2023 Position Player of the Year), Taylor Durak (Sr), Christin Hartman (Sr), Kathryn Vermeulen (Sr)
 
Illinois College Lady Blues
Head Coach: Leslie Messina (1^st Season)
2023 Season: 24-15-1 Overall; 15-1 MWC
All-Conference Returnees: N/A
 
Knox College Prairie Fire
Head Coach: Erin Clark (10^th Season)
2023 Season: 13-23 Overall; 7-9 MWC
All-Conference Returnees: Taylynn Kizer (Sr)
 
Lake Forest College Foresters
Head Coach: Joe Kinsella (18^th Season)
2023 Season: 24-13-1 Overall; 12-4 MWC
All-Conference Returnees: Kyla Chevalier (So), Kelly Collings (Jr), Teagan Delarwelle (Sr), Cadence Dempsey (So), Kaylee Purgatorio (Jr), Hannah Smith (Jr – 2022 Pitcher of the Year)
 
Lawrence University Vikings
Head Coach: Tracy Cromer (4^th Season)
2023 Season: 5-33 Overall; 1-15 MWC
All-Conference Returnees: N/A
 
Monmouth College Scots
Head Coach: Alexa McClaughry (4^th Season)
2023 Season: 13-27 Overall; 5-11 MWC
All-Conference Returnees: N/A
 
Ripon College Red Hawks
Head Coach: Steve Wammer (7^th Season)
2023 Season: 14-24 Overall; 5-11 MWC
All-Conference Returnees: Maddie Hablewitz (Jr), Mikaela Lawrence (Sr)