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The 2025–26 girls high school softball season wrapped up this week in Fort Dodge and Rogers Park, as the state tournament crowned five champions and delivered several season-defining moments. The new double-elimination format produced dramatic comebacks, unexpected runaways and one program’s first-ever title — outcomes that will reverberate for coaches, seniors and college recruiters.
The state finals unfolded over five days, with the Class 2A and Class 4A title games played on Thursday and Class 1A, Class 3A and Class 5A decided on Friday. Below is a quick look at the champions and the key performances that sealed each crown.
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- Class 5A — Waukee Northwest: Beat Ankeny Centennial, 3-1. Hazel Leinen hit a sixth-inning, two-run homer that broke a 1-1 tie; pitcher Sophia Schlader fanned nine while limiting Centennial to two hits.
- Class 4A — ADM: Defeated Carlisle, 6-0. Lauren Hagedorn struck out nine and surrendered four hits; Kinzee Maxwell went 3-for-3 with a homer and two RBIs.
- Class 3A — Dubuque Wahlert Catholic: Knocked off three-time defending champion Williamsburg, 13-6. Julia Roth went 4-for-4 with two doubles and three RBIs; Natalie Ruba drove in seven runs.
- Class 2A — Grand View Christian: Captured its first program title, rallying from an early deficit to edge Wapsie Valley, 7-6. Sophie Bird homered and drove in four; Chloe Cox struck out five.
- Class 1A — Clarksville: Successfully defended its crown with a 5-2 win over Edgewood-Colesburg, becoming the first repeat Class 1A champion since 2019. No. 9 hitter Eve Jordan homered and was named captain of the all-tournament team.
How the new format shaped the outcomes
The double-elimination bracket changed the dynamics of late-week play. Top seeds that stumbled early had a path back, and teams that survived the opening rounds gained momentum that carried them to the weekend.
Grand View Christian exemplified that arc: after a surprising opening loss, the Thunder wiped out the team that beat them, swept through Iowa City Regina, and mounted a comeback in the final to secure the milestone title.
Standout performances and college connections
Several individual efforts stood out not only for the moment but for their potential impact on recruiting and program prestige. Waukee Northwest’s Schlader and ADM’s Hagedorn both delivered dominant pitching lines on the biggest stage.
Other notable mentions: Jordyn Kennedy (Ankeny Centennial), who is headed to Minnesota, provided Centennial’s lone offense with a run-scoring hit; Mississippi State commit Lauren Sandholm worked five-plus innings for the Jaguars in the 5A final.
These performances matter beyond trophies. Strong showings at state tournaments can change recruiting conversations, raise a program’s profile and influence offseason schedules for returning players.
Games that swung the momentum
The week produced an uneven mix of blowouts and late dramatics. Dubuque Wahlert’s 11-run advantage in the 3A title game erased the chance of a historic four-peat by Williamsburg, while Clarksville’s route to back-to-back flags included a marathon 15-inning victory earlier in the week — a grind that tested pitching depth and resilience.
In other contests, late homers and multi-hit outputs tilted tight matchups: those timely swings underscored how small moments can decide a season.
What this means next
For seniors, the curtain falls with memories and, for several, college opportunities in place. For returning teams, coaches will use this offseason to build on exposure gained at state and to address depth, especially in pitching and situational hitting.
The double-elimination experiment also leaves administrators and coaches with new data: does the format produce a fairer champion by reducing the randomness of single-elimination, or does it advantage deeper rosters? Expect that conversation to continue in prep circles over the coming months.
As programs settle into summer training and recruiting periods, the results from Fort Dodge and Rogers Park will shape narratives for next season — from dynasty hopes to the rise of first-time champions.
