CS
Cara Smoczynski
  • Elementary Education
  • Class of 2017
  • Aurora, Ill.

Aurora Native Smoczynksi to Compete for UW-Whitewater Softball in 2016

2016 Mar 16

Cara Smoczynksi, a native of Aurora, IL, and graduate of Rosary High School, will compete for the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater softball team during the 2016 season.

The Warhawks begin play this Friday as part of their 12-game spring break trip to Clermont, Fla.

Smoczynksi, a junior at UW-Whitewater, is majoring in elementary education.

See below for a complete season preview of this year's team.

The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Softball team swings into the 2016 season this Friday against No. 14 Heidelberg (Ohio) in the first of 12 games on the team's spring break trip to Clermont, Fla.

The Warhawks are predicted to finish in first place in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference during the 2016 season in a preseason poll filled out by league coaches and athletic communications personnel. The team has won back-to-back regular season titles and three consecutive WIAC Tournament championships entering 2016.

UW-Whitewater is led by head coach Brenda Volk, who enters her 18th year at the helm of the program. Under her direction, the Warhawks have won five conference titles and five conference tournament titles. They've also made nine NCAA Tournament appearances, including a national runner-up finish in 2008 and a third-place finish in 2014.

The Warhawks' first home doubleheader of the season comes against Carthage March 30. The first conference games come against UW-Stout and UW-River Falls April 9-10. UW-Whitewater faces consecutive ranked opponents when it visits No. 13 Illinois Wesleyan April 19 and plays host to No. 24 UW-Oshkosh April 23.

The 2016 Warhawks feature two seniors in infielder Maggie Hansen (Algonquin, Ill./Jacobs) and outfielder Morgan Parise (Sheboygan, Wis./North), who lead a young squad that includes nine freshmen.

Below are the position breakdowns for the 2016 UW-Whitewater softball team.

Pitching

UW-Whitewater returns three pitchers with starting experience from last year's team. Junior Stephanie Waller (Oak Lawn, Ill./Richards) appeared in 11 games in 2015, including three starts and one complete game. She managed a 3-1 record with a 2.48 earned run average.

Junior Cara Smoczynski (Aurora, Ill./Rosary) finished 2015 with a 2.47 ERA in seven appearances for the Warhawks. She started two games and earned a 2-0 record on the season.

Junior Kara Tadda (Lombard, Ill./Glenbard East) also made a pair of relief appearance last season.

Freshmen: Julia Camardo (Arlington Heights, Ill./Buffalo Grove); Molly Ethington (Rock Island, Ill./Alleman Catholic).

Infield

Junior first baseman Amy Ricci (Gurnee, Ill./Warren Township) appeared in 45 games in 2015. She complied a .290 batting average (42-of-145), knocked in team high 41 runs and hit seven home runs in 2015. Ricci was also good with the glove, as she had a .983 fielding percentage.

Senior middle infielder Maggie Hansen (Algonquin, Ill./Jacobs) hit three home runs and two doubles in 32 games in 2015.

Junior Hannah Taylor (Glen Ellyn, Ill./Glenbard South) returns as a starter at third base. She registered a .301 batting average with seven doubles and 13 RBI a season ago. Sophomore middle infielder Michayla Swanson (Randolph, Wis./Randolph) also returns with starting experience, knocking in 14 runs in 28 games, including 22 starts.

Sophomore first baseman Maddie Drain (Crystal Lake, Ill./Prairie Ridge) appeared in nine games in 2015

Freshmen: Molly Ethington (Rock Island, Ill./Alleman Catholic), 1B; Nikki Mikosz (Wheeling, Ill./Wheeling), C; Emily Rux (Chicago, Ill./Mother McAuley), SS.

Outfield

The Warhawk outfield features three returners with starting experience in juniors Jessica Kaemerer (New Lenox, Ill./Lincoln-Way West), Haley Morelli (Mundelein, Ill./Mundelein) and sophomore Mallory Klotz (New Berlin, Wis./West).

Klotz returns the highest batting average from the 2015 season, .404 (59-of-146) in 43 games. She tallied 15 runs batted in, five doubles, five triples, one homerun and had an on base percentage of .447.

Morelli hit .283 (13-of-46) with five doubles in 27 games in 2015. Kaemerer scored 14 runs in 37 games played.

Parise appeared in 19 contests, finishing 4-for-10 with a run scored.

Freshmen: Kelly Berglund (Menomonee Falls, Wis./Menomonee Falls), Molly Brenner (Racine, Wis./Case), Caitlin Catino (Arlington Heights, Ill./Buffalo Grove), Lauren Janczak (Carol Stream, Ill./Bartlett), Kayla Seymour (New Lenox, Ill./Lincoln-Way West).