WSC softball signs three for 2022-23 season

Posted

Wayne State softball coach Shelli Manson has announced the signings of three student-athletes for the 2022-23 academic year.

Joining the Wildcat softball program are Kyndal Colon of Lincoln, Annika Manzanares from Broomfield, Colo., and Sophie Stuart of Kirksville, Mo.

Colon is a 5-foot-8 catcher from Lincoln East High School where she was a four-year letterwinner in softball. This season, she posted a .426 batting average with 12 home runs and 37 RBI, helping Lincoln East to a 35-10 record and Class A state runner-up finish. Colon was named Class A All-State honorable mention and has been selected to play in next summer’s Nebraska Coaches Association All-Star Game. She is a three-time All-Heartland Conference Academic selection and finished her career with 25 home runs.

“Kyndal is an in-state talent that we are proud to add to our Wildcat family,” said Manson. “She is a very strong athlete who can hit for power and defensively is a great battery-mate and controls the game well. Kyndal is a competitor on the field and in the classroom and we are looking forward to seeing her develop over the next four years.”

Manzanares is a 5-foot-7 outfielder from Holy Family High School in Broomfield, Colo., where she was a three-year starter in softball. This season, Manzanares batted .500 with eight home runs and 48 RBI, helping her team to a 25-4 record and the Colorado Class 4A state championship for the second straight year and third time in four seasons. She was named Class 4A first-team All-State and first-team All-Northern Colorado Athletic Conference this season. Manzanares closed her high school career with a .434 batting average that included 14 home runs and 86 RBI.

“Annika is a driven athlete who knows what it takes to win,” commented Manson. “She is a great teammate who is willing to play multiple defensive positions. Annika is a smooth defender whether at shortstop or in the outfield and has a great bat that can hit for average and power. We are anxious to see what she can do in a Wildcat uniform.”

Stuart is a 5-foot-9 pitcher from Kirksville, Mo., and was a four-year starter in softball. As a senior, Stuart was 19-4 in the circle with a 1.18 ERA while recording 241 strikeouts leading her team to a 22-6-1 record. She was a Missouri Class 3A first-team All-State selection and was also a first-team All-Region, All-District and All-North Central Missouri Conference honoree. As a batter during her senior season, Stuart hit .350 with 27 hits, one home run and 20 RBI. Stuart closed her high school career as a four-time first-team All-District selection and was first-team All-Conference as a junior and senior.

“We are excited Sophie chose Wayne State,” remarked Manson. “She is a fierce competitor with great mound presence who will make an immediate impact for us. Sophie has a lot of experience at the high school and travel ball levels which will ease her transition to the collegiate level. She has a lot of talent and we can’t wait to see how she progresses under our training program.”