"Be gritty, be tough, be resilient; be the team that never gives up."
 
That is what ninth-year head coach Victoria Rumph wants to see out of her College of Wooster softball team heading into the 2026 season.
 
The team went 17-21 a year ago, a minor improvement from 2024, but the North Coast Athletic Conference Tournament was still elusive for the Scots even with an 8-2 finish to the season.
 
The recent NCAC Softball Coaches Preseason Poll ranks them fourth as Wooster looks toward a seventh NCAC Tournament appearance and its first since 2022.
 
"We fully plan on being in the conference tournament," Rumph said. "With the way the conference is set up it's wide open. We have what it takes all the way around - offensively, defensively and on the mound - to be able to fight every single game for a win."
 
Experience is plentiful with six seniors compose on this year's team. Seniors Julia Jennings, Ella Wolff and junior Jasmine Mueller are the team captains. Together, they will be the core of the year's team as they guide them through the early goings of the season.
 
"They're willing to do whatever it takes, even if it's harder or different than it's been in the past to help us get where we want to go," Rumph said. "With buy in from the upperclassmen, and the captains especially, it has been huge, and it helps set the tone for what we can do as a team."
  
On the mound, Jillian Meszaros was Wooster's number one as a first-year and an All-NCAC Second Team selection, compiling 122 innings with a 9-11 record and a 3.04 ERA. Junior Tori Conner was the number two pitcher, going 6-9 with a 3.46 ERA.
 
"Our pitchers saw a solid amount of time on the rubber last year," Rumph said. "Jill's going to continue to improve and get us groundballs. Tori knows what it takes to compete at a high level."
 
Wooster also returns some big bats and solid glovework. Four other All-NCAC players return along with Meszaros – first teamers Jennings and Cate Barkdoll and third teamers Emma Hetkey and Wolff.
 
Jennings and Hetkey have proven to be two of the program's best to reach base, currently in the top five all-time in on-base percentage and batting average.
 
Behind the backstop, Barkdoll threw out an NCAA Div. III best 23 runners, while also batting .361 with six home runs and 32 RBI. Barkdoll also slugged .667 which was seventh best in a single season at Wooster.
 
Wolff, a two-time All-NCAC third teamer, exceled in conference games, batting .303, while committing just one error in 38 games in center field.
 
Hetkey also stole a total of 26 bases, which gave her the career stolen base record at 54 swipes. 
 
"Our first-year class brings us a lot of speed," Rumph noted. "It's something that I'm excited to add to our lineup. Experience and the speed we gain is going to be huge for us."
 
First-year Larken Koran will slide in at shortstop, moving Jennings back to third, the position where she won her inaugural NFCA Rawlings Gold Glove in 2023.

Elsewhere, senior Lynnsey Delio will shore up the right side of the infield, while still being an option from the pen. Hetkey and Wolff make up the outfield with others fighting for a spot, including first-year Shaylynn Rogaski.

Offensively, the Scots will have plenty of viable options when needing a bat off the bench.
 
In addition, Wooster welcomes assistant coach Caroline Turner to the staff, joining volunteer assistant Bob Lance.
 
"Caroline adds a lot of knowledge," Rumph said. "She's working hard with the hitters, and we've seen a lot of significant improvement. I'm excited to see how we can continue to challenge the status quo and push forward."
 
Wooster opens the season at Spalding University, playing three teams twice in a three-day span. From there, they head to Florida to play eight games on their spring break trip before opening conference play March 28 at Oberlin College. Wooster's home opener is April 4 against Kenyon College.