Waterloo Vikings 2026 Softball Preview
Team Name: Waterloo Vikings
2025 record: 12-11
Coach: Brenda Flarida - 28th year at Waterloo
Coaching staff: Mackenzie Kehrer - assistant coach
Key returning players: Bayley English Sr. C (2nd team MVAC, HM All District), Regan Heilman Sr. 2nd Base, Brylynn Eddy Sr. 1st Base, Kristlyn Kehrer Jr. P/IF/OF (1st team MVAC, HM All District), Mackenzie Marsh Jr. OF, Kaylynn Esola Jr. OF, Jolean Hampton So. P/3rd base (1st team MVAC, 2nd Team All District), Brooke May So. SS/Infield, Isabell Knepp So. OF.
Position outlook:
Infield: The infield will consist of familiar faces in the infield. Brylin Eddy will be at first base again, with Regan Heilman, a returning starter at second base. Brooke May will again be at shortstop with Emma Murphy perhaps seeing some time there as well. Hailey Graening will be the new face in the infield at 3rd and depending on who is on the mound, Jolean Hampton (.560, 7 HR) will also be at third. They bring much talent and experience to the infield. Taylor Wadsworth and Emmalee Goodyear could also see time in the infield.
Outfield: The outfield will consist of rotating players in the outfield. Kris Kehrer (.413, 4HR) will be in center field, when she is not on the mound. Seeing time in the outfield will be a rotation of Mackenzie Marsh, Kaylynn Esola, Emma Murphy, Isabelle Knepp. We will have speed and experience in the outfield. We have quite a few new, young players that will also see outfield time, including Kenadee Kehrer, Taylor Wadsworth, Emmalee Goodyear, and Kendall Eichler
Catcher: Senior, Bayley English, will enter her 4th year behind the plate. Her experience behind the plate is a strength for our team as she will handle the pitchers.
Pitching staff: We have two experienced pitchers returning from last season. Sophomore Jolean Hampton (9-7, ERA 2.65, 149 K’s) and Kristlyn Kehrer (3-4). They have a different style and look and hopefully that will keep hitters off balance. They both bring much experience to the mound.
Season outlook / expectations: “The beginning of the year is always cause for concern with getting reps outside and dealing with the weather. We need to hit from top to bottom of our lineup this year. This will come with repetition and game experience. We have a very hard working group of girls this season, with many veteran players, losing no one from last season and adding in the newcomers, this brings much excitement to the team in the early part of the year,” said Flardia. “We have high expectations and goals this season. The tradition we have created within our program is always our strength. Our goal every year is to contend for a league title. We will need to come out of the gate quickly and prove we can play with anyone. I feel there are many quality teams in our league and it will be competitive every night. Any given night anyone can beat anyone. So we need to come ready to play every night.”
