Hawk girls are well-represented on all-WEC teams

One benefit of finishing with a better record in War Eagle Conference play is that a team has more players earn all-conference recognition.

That is the case for the 2023 Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn softball team, which landed five players on all-conference teams due to a fourth-place finish.

Gracie Knobloch was named to the all-WEC first team for the second straight year. The sophomore led the Hawks in nearly every offensive category, as well as starting 17 of their 23 games in the pitcher's circle.

Another sophomore, Eliza Tewes, was also named to the all-WEC first team. Despite missing half of H-M-S's games due to injury, she finished in the Top 5 in batting average, hit and runs batted in, and her .980 fielding average topped the team.

Two Hawks named to the all-WEC second team, senior Abby Kunzman and junior Kinsey Schirmer, are first-time selections. Senior Cadence Klein, whose season was also cut short due to injury, was honorable mention for the second straight year.

The following is the complete list of the all-War Eagle Conference selections.

First Team: Remsen St. Mary's – Mya Bunkers, Claire Schroeder, Marina Cronin. Hinton – Ashlyn Kovarna, Bailey Boeve, Ashlyn Kramer. Akron-Westfield – Makenzie Hughes, Josie Jacobs. H-M-S – Gracie Knobloch, Eliza Tewes. Unity Christian – Paige DeBoom, Brielle Reitsma. Gehlen Catholic – Haley Lubben, Halle Walgenbach. MMCRU – Isabelle Olson, Breanna Staab. South O'Brien – Maddie Johnson, Jinger Nieuwenhuis. Trinity Christian – Keahna Heynen. Harris-Lake Park – Brooke Nicks. West Sioux – Mia Danielson.

Second Team: Remsen St. Mary's – Halle Galles, Hallie Bunkers. Hinton – Karlyn Kovarna, Kayla Sypersma. Akron-Westfield – Lainey Schuknecht, Katie Johnson. H-M-S – Kinsey Schirmer, Abby Kunzman. Unity Christian – Cassady Dekkers, Ruby Zylstra. Gehlen Catholic – Addie Konz. MMCRU – Avery Schlenger. South O'Brien – Payton Farquhar. Trinity Christian – Makiah DeJager. Harris-Lake Park – Payton Reimers. West Sioux – Molly Hulshof.

Honorable Mention: Remsen St. Mary's – Octavia Galles. Akron-Westfield – Brylie Johnson. H-M-S – Cadence Klein. Unity Christian – Addison Liston. Gehlen Catholic – Larissa Pohlen. MMCRU – Torey Tentinger. South O'Brien – Karlee Warnke. Trinity Christian – Kerstin Brummel. Harris-Lake Park – Rylie Wittrock. West Sioux – Addi Westergard.