Dupage Policy Journal

Carthage junior outfielder Clare Rettler has been named the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) Offensive Student-Athlete of the Year for a second consecutive year. The announcement was made by the league office on Wednesday morning as part of the All-CCIW Softball Teams.

Illinois Wesleyan senior shortstop Jen Kuhn received the CCIW Defensive Student-Athlete of the Year honor, while Titans’ sophomore Mallory Holland was awarded CCIW Pitcher of the Year. Additionally, Augustana’s Lexi Duke was recognized as the CCIW First-Year Student-Athlete of the Year.

Rettler is only the third player in conference history to win Student-Athlete of the Year honors in back-to-back seasons, joining Wheaton's Katie Thornton and Illinois Wesleyan’s Colleen Palcynski. In 2025, Rettler achieved a .661 batting average over 56 at-bats in 14 CCIW starts. She led with a .683 on-base percentage, slugged .750, and topped the league with 22 stolen bases and 20 runs scored. Her achievements included a 32-game hitting streak, which ranks as one of Division III's longest.

Kuhn was honored as an All-CCIW selection for her fourth time and excelled defensively with a perfect record in 56 chances from shortstop. Offensively, she hit .407/.444/.695 with four home runs and contributed significantly to her team's scoring efforts.

Holland showcased her pitching prowess with a 1.07 ERA over 39.1 innings this season, maintaining an undefeated record and holding opponents to a .141 batting average. Her performance included key contributions such as a complete-game shutout against North Central.

Freshman Lexi Duke from Port Byron emerged as a leading offensive player for Augustana, hitting .431 with notable contributions including five doubles and two home runs across her appearances.

Illinois Wesleyan’s coaching staff, led by Tiffany Prager, earned their third consecutive CCIW Coaching Staff of the Year award after leading their team to an undefeated season in conference play.

The awards also included selections for All-CCIW First Team and Second Team players across various positions from different schools within the conference.