MCHS’s softball teams tryouts were held Monday March 3 – 5, marking the beginning of their 2025 season.
The team now has 27 players combined on their Junior Varsity and Varsity team.
MCHS has had a softball team for over 20 years and is coached by Mikaela Mitsch, teacher at MCHS and head varsity coach, Matthew Connor, assistant varsity coach, Douglas Primus, JV head coach, and Derek Franzen, JV assistant coach. In past years, MCHS’s softball team has done well, and has made it up to super-sectionals in the 2000s.
New athletes share their goals and how they feel about their first season on a new team.
“I am looking forward to getting closer with the girls,” Said Elyse Fullington, sophomore at MCHS and Varsity softball player. “Because it’s my first year playing for McHenry, I’m looking forward to new competition as well … since I’m at a new school, it’s like a new experience, I want a positive team and hopefully I play better and just have a better time.”
Athletes want the best for their teams and want a fresh start this season and are willing to change their personal goals as well as the goals they have as a whole team for the 2025 season.
“As a team this season,” Said Brooke Snyder, sophomore at MCHS and JV softball player. ”We’re trying to bond with the girls and form a real community. This season I am looking forward to all the new girls I have met and will grow a good relationship with … A new season means a fresh start new opportunities, new tactics that the coaches and using and new drills”
“I just want to go into the season with a positive attitude, thinking that we’re going to win and try to enjoy it more than I did last year.” Snyder said.
Players and coaches alike, want the best for their team this season and have personal goals for how they want this season to turn out.
“We want to get back to focusing on the team aspect of it,” Mitsch said. “Focusing on trusting each other as players … We just want to focus on having a good time, and this is the first time we’ve ever played together as a team. We’re really young, half of our program are freshman, which is insane.”
“It’s exciting,” Mitsch said, “I’m looking forward to seeing their faces because they’re just excited to be around and they love softball so much, so the focus is to continue to have fun, to trust their teammates, and to trust yourself that you’re going to get the job done.”
Although new seasons bring change, that means something new and exciting is on the way.
“That’s why I love athletics,” Mitsch said. “Especially with softball, each pitch brings something new.”