Healy announces 2018 signing class
November 09, 2017 | Softball
Fish, Miklesh, Rainey and Schwartz set to join Badgers next fall
MADISON, Wis. – Head coach Yvette Healy is thrilled to announce the 2018 signing class for Wisconsin softball. The newest class brings in Maddie Schwartz, a top pitcher from Minnesota, Jolie Fish, a speedy shortstop from Oklahoma, Ally Miklesh, one of the top outfielders in the state of Wisconsin, and Savanna Rainey, a Badger legacy and standout hometown catcher.
Maddie Schwartz
The Badgers signed another standout from Minnesota in pitcher Maddie Schwartz. The 5-9 Chanhassen native plays for Joe Coenen at Chanhassen High School and the Midwest Speed, coached by Sean Hall, Nat Wagner and former UW assistant coach Missy Beseres. With the Midwest Speed, she placed fifth in the PGF Platinum National Tournament.
With Chanhassen, Schwartz is a two-time Metro West Conference champion (2014, 2017), two-time Section 2AAAA champion (2016, 2017), 2015 Section 2AAA champion and 2016 AAAA state champion in addition to placing third in the 2017 AAAA state tournament.
As an individual, Schwartz is a three-time all-conference honorable mention honoree (2015, 2016, 2017), 2015 All-Section honoree and broke the school record for most strikeouts in a game with 17. Schwartz excels off the field as well, earning academic letters as a junior and senior and being named to the Dean's list as a freshman, sophomore and junior. She also played basketball her freshman year of high school.
Healy on Schwartz:
"Madison Schwartz is an exciting pitcher from Minnesota. She competes for Sean Hall's Midwest Speed program and has helped lead Chanhassen High School to a 4A state championship. Maddie is an athlete with great size and strength. Working with elite pitching coach Missy Beseres, Maddie can spin the ball, and make it dance. We know her work ethic and poise will help her become an elite Big Ten pitcher. Maddie has grown up a Badger fan, and we're thrilled to have her leadership in the program."
Welcome to the #Badgers family Maddie!
— Wisconsin Softball (@BadgerSoftball) November 9, 2017
-Minnesota pitcher, played for Midwest Speed
-3-time All-Conference honorable mention
-2-time Metro West Conf. champ
-2-time Section 2AAAA champ
-2015 Section 2AAA champ
-2016 AAAA state champ
-Broke school record, most Ks in a game (17) pic.twitter.com/niFOk8TaeG
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Jolie Fish:
Jolie Fish is the first signee from the state of Oklahoma in Healy's tenure. She is a speedy middle infielder from Midwest City, Oklahoma and will bring a wealth of experience to Madison. She was a star for Carl Albert High School, helping the Titans to become regional champions (2014-2017) and state qualifiers (2014-2017).
In 2016, she was named the All District Offensive Player of the Year after earning All-District Second Baseman the year before. The 2017 All-City Prep nominee had the most stolen bases on the team from 2014-2017. In addition, she was a member of the 2015 IDT All-Star Team.
Fish played for Frank Knight and the Tulsa Elite 2000s, finishing as Tulsa Heartland 18U champions, IDT Boulder 18U champions, Tulsa Elite Wilson Invite 18U runner-ups and Top Gun Prodigy 18U runner-ups.Healy on Fish:
"Jolie Fish is a shortstop from Oklahoma. She has played against some of the top athletes in the country, competing for Jeff Filali's Tulsa Elite program. Jolie has speed, power and athleticism. She can hit for average and put the ball over the fence. Jolie knows how to win, leading her high school team to 5A state championship. Jolie has an amazing family support system, traveling the country to watch the Badger softball team compete, nationally."
First signee from Oklahoma for Healy ??
— Wisconsin Softball (@BadgerSoftball) November 9, 2017
All-District Offensive Player of the Year ??
All-District Second Baseman ??
Tulsa Heartland 18U Champ ??
Regional Champ (2014-17) ??
State Qualifier (2014-17) ??
A Wisconsin Badger ??
Welcome to the family Jolie! pic.twitter.com/rwD5rRJueT
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Ally Miklesh:
One of the top players in the state of Wisconsin, Ally Miklesh has chosen to stay in her home state and represent the Badgers with pride. A native of Stevens Point, Miklesh has been a unanimous first-team All-Wisconsin Valley conference selection for Stevens Point Area High School as a freshman, sophomore and junior. Playing under head coach Tom Drohner, she was named to the Wisconsin Fastpitch Coaches Association (WFCA) First Team All-State as a sophomore and junior, and was named to the WFCA second team as a freshman.A 2016 state champion, she holds the records for the most runs scored in a Wisconsin state tournament with seven. As a team captain and team MVP in her junior season, Miklesh led the Wisconsin Valley Conference in hits, batting average, runs scored, stolen bases and triples in the 2017 season. As of right now, she has 139 career hits and 128 career runs, and went a nearly perfect 32-for-33 in stolen bases as a junior.
She earned the Ms. Hustle Award as a freshman, sophomore and junior, the outstanding OF award as a sophomore and junior and the newcomer award as a freshman.
She played club ball for her father, Bob Miklesh, with the FirePro Fastpitch 18U Gold and for Sean Hall and the Midwest Speed. In 2017, her team took third place in the Class A ASA Eastern Nationals, while her squad also took third in 2016 at the Class A ASA Northern Nationals. In addition, her 14U team won the 2014 USSSA 15U World Series. She also was invited to a Team USA Tryout, the Scout Softball underclassmen showcase 2015 in Houston and the Scout Softball Regional and National showcases in 2014.
In addition, Miklesh has been a four-year starter for SPASH volleyball, and a three-time captain and three-time team MVP. She earned the Player Impact Award as a freshman after being named Honorable Mention by the conference. She was second-team all-conference as a sophomore but first-team all-conference as a junior and senior, also leading the conference in kills this last season.
She dominated off the field and the court as well, earning Academic All-State as a sophomore, junior and senior for volleyball and as a sophomore and junior for softball. Miklesh is a three-time National Honor Society member, seven-time Scholar Athlete Seasonal Award recipient, three-time SPASH Academic Award recipient and three-time AVCA National Team Academic Award winner.
Her father, Bob Miklesh, played baseball at Central Michigan in 1987 and then football at UW-Eau Claire from 1988-1991. Her Mother, Michelle, was on the UW-Eau Claire Dance Team from 1987-1989 and the UW-Madison Dance Team in 1991.
Healy on Miklesh: "Ally Miklesh is one of the top female athletes in the state of Wisconsin. She is a centerfielder with blazing speed and a rocket arm. Ally will add a burst of energy and excitement into the program, with her ability to run down balls, make diving catches, and score runs. Competing for Hall of Fame coach Tom Drohner, Ally helped lead SPASH softball to a state title in 2016. We are so proud to continue to attract and sign the best talent in the state of the Wisconsin, to compete for the Badgers on a national stage. Ally and her family are dedicated to teaching and growing softball in the state of Wisconsin. She exemplifies the Badger way, with her humble excellence."
Thrilled to announce that Ally will be one of the #Badgers! #SigningDay
— Wisconsin Softball (@BadgerSoftball) November 8, 2017
-WVC Unanimous First Team All-Conf. as a freshman, sophomore and junior.
-2016 Wisconsin State champ.
-And plenty more reasons to be excited for this ball player! pic.twitter.com/BWBRIzInG5
Savanna Rainey:
A 5-3 catcher from Madison, Savanna Rainey is a Badger legacy coming home. A two-time first-team All-District standout, Rainey is a standout for Verona Area high school, leading Todd Anderson's squad to the state tournament. The first-team all-state and first-team all-area selection finished her junior season with a conference-high 43 RBIs, nine home runs, 10 doubles, two triples and 17 singles. The two-time first-team and one-time all-conference honoree has earned the team's defensive MVP honors twice and offensive MVP honors once. Rainey also earned the Verona Area High School Hustle Award as a freshman.
She played for both the New Jersey Intensity and Carolina Elite and also played for the Verona Little League and Verona Area Girls Softball before moving to play out of state for national level softball programs. Rainey was also invited to play in the Under Armour Softball Factory All-American Game twice and participated in the Under Armour Softball Factory Christmas Camp and Tournament. A Badger legacy, Rainey's grandfather Karl played on the Wisconsin baseball teams in the 1960s. Her Dad, Reggie, played basketball in college and overseas.
Healy on Rainey:
"Savanna Rainey is a standout catcher and third baseman from Verona High school, helping lead her team to the Wisconsin State tournament. Savanna has traveled the country to compete for high level travel organizations like Kevin O'Donnell's New Jersey Intensity Gold program. She is a Wisconsin legacy, following in the footsteps of her Grandfather, who competed for the Badger Baseball team. Savanna and her family are Badgers through and through, cheering on Bucky as life-long fans and alumni, dedicated to community service and outreach."
Welcome our newest member to the squad!! SO EXCITED TO HAVE SAVANNA!!! #Badgers pic.twitter.com/ekzo5xgyX0
— Wisconsin Softball (@BadgerSoftball) November 16, 2017
