Gaylord softball dealing with changing roster, expectations in 2026

GAYLORD ― The Gaylord softball program has built quite a name for itself over the past five seasons. Winning back-to-back state championships in 2023 and 2024 made it clear across the state, but those around Northern Michigan had been well aware of the juggernaut the GHS team was becoming. The achievements they left behind tell the story: a 172-19 record over five seasons, the top two seasons in home runs hit by a team in MHSAA history (73 HR in 2023, 72 in 2024) and eight current players on college softball rosters.

Now, a relatively new group will fill attempt to fill those large shoes (or cleats) left behind, and while the coaching staff is not lowering the standard, the team understands that nothing will come easy just because of the name on the front of their jersey. "I tell the girls that even though we're the Gaylord softball program, we're not the teams that have been here before," said senior Nora Bethuy. "We're going to have to work hard for every single thing we get.

" Softball rankings Paw Paw new D2 No. 1 in Michigan high school softball rankings Athlete of the Week Vote for the Gaylord Herald Times Athlete of the Week, April 13-20 Gaylord Blue Devils softball 2026 Last season: 24-8, Advanced to Division 2 regional finals (lost 10-0 to Escanaba). Key departures: Aubrey Jones, Kennedy Wangler, Jenna Sircely.

Key returners: Nora Bethuy, Makayala Kozlowski, Lily Ryckman-Hall. With a player like Aubrey Jones on the roster, a state championship was always the ceiling for the GHS softball team. There was certainly more that went into back-to-back state titles than one dominant player, but it was players like Jones, her sister Jayden, and other standouts like Alexis Shepherd, Alexis Kozlowski and others down the lineup that made Gaylord the most feared softball team in the state, regardless of division.