Program: Iowa Western  
Head Coach: Ryan Cougill: 4th year  
NJCAA Region/Division: Region 11, DI
Email: [email protected]    
Twitter: cougill_ryan
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Under the tenure of Coach Cougill, Iowa Western has become accustomed to the term winning. In his four years with the program, they hold a 134-43 record, two Region 11 championships, a JUCO World Series appearance, and an ICCAC title. Last year was no different for this team, as they went 42-19, taking home a Region 11 championship. However, their season was cut short at the hands of Lake Land College in the Midwest District tournament. A disappointing end to an otherwise successful season, as the Reivers look to improve on this mark and make it back to the World Series this Spring. It’s easier said than done, as the rotation loses over 350 innings with four freshman arms departing early for their respective Division I programs. What helps offset that loss is a powerhouse lineup that returns more than half of its starters, with depth and options at every corner. The expectations are high for this Iowa Western team as they set their eyes on a World Series path this spring.

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PITCHERS

This season, the biggest loss for Iowa Western clearly comes from the mound. 15 total, leaving with 11 being due to graduation, with a total of 350 innings being lost. Obviously, losing arms at this level is nothing new, but the main concern comes with the two freshmen who left early for their respective D1 programs. It’s nothing but a complete highlight of the development capabilities of the Iowa Western coaching staff, but it does leave a gapping whole within the pitching staff. Looking to provide stability for the staff, right-handers Aiden Lieser and Creighton Tuzzio, who look set to hold down the rotation. Lieser is a Nebraska transfer sitting 90-94 mph with the fastball and three secondiares which all play up from his over-the-top slot. While Tuzzio made 16 appearances last year as one of the main arms out of the bullpen for the Reivers, tossing 39 innings. He was a multi-innings arm, tossing a 4.85 ERA, with 50 strikeouts to only 15 walks, setting him up to take the next step into the rotation. This fall, the towering 6-foot-7 righty was flashing 90s, sitting 90-93 mph, with a high spin slider in the upper-70s, and a changeup in the low-80s. These two arms are set to provide depth to the rotation heading into the spring.

Aiden Lieser from: 9/26/25

Looking to add some needed veteran depth to the staff are four more sophomores, all with the potential to fight for a starting job. Right-hander Conner Connell leads this group after tossing 22 innings as a freshman with a 4.50 ERA and 26 strikeouts. This fall, the command has ticked up with the fastball sitting in 89-93 mph, with life, and slider upper-70s. Right behind him is another right-hander in Finn Furcht. Only tossing 13 innings last year to a 4.85 ERA with 19 strikeouts, Furcht looks to play a bigger role this season. During the fall, the fastball sits 90-94 mph, with a swing-and-miss slider in the upper-70s, and a changeup in the mid-80s. The righty has also seen an uptick in his innings this fall, setting himself up to play a versatile role through the bullpen and as a possible opener. Next is sophomore left-hander Luke Woltman, set to see an increase in innings from his 6.1 as a freshman. Over the fall, he showed a three-pitch mix with the fastball sitting 85-88 mph, the slider 77-78 mph, and the changeup 70-71 mph. Look for him to play a key role in the bullpen this year. Now rounding out this group is a right-handed arm, who brings back the most experience in Dawson Thies. Thies retuners after tossing 44.1 innings, in 14 appearances, eight of them being starts. He pitched to a 4.87 ERA, striking out 34, while only walking 15. These four sophomores look to provide depth and support throughout the entire staff.

Conner Connell from: 9/25/25

Now rounding out the veterans is a group of redshirt sophomores and freshmen, all looking to provide depth and find their way this spring. Starting this big group off are four redshirt sophmores all coming off injuries, but are 100% as we get into the season. Brynner Waiolama starts us off, a right-hander sitting 92-95 mph. Then righties Casey Kowalczyk sits 92-95 mph, and Dylan Goltl sits 89-91 mph. Then the final redshirt sophomore arm is sitting 92-95 mph, another right-hander by the name of Sam Marek.

Finishing this group out is the trio of redshirt freshmen, each looking to bounce back after taking a year off for their respective reasons. Right-hander Tom Ford starts us off, an arm we haven't seen much of this fall, but runs the fastball into the lower-90s. The rounding out he group is a duo of left-handers in Easton Roth and Tyler Olson. Roth is another arm we haven't seen much of, but with Olson, the fastball sits 89-91 mph, T92 mph, with the curveball sitting 74-76 mph, 2600 RPMs, and changeup sitting low-80s. Each of the arms will provide depth to the staff and look to find their place in the bullpen.

With the lack of returning arms, Iowa Western will have to turn to freshmen to step into pivotal roles this season. Left-hander Jack Gessner leads this group with the potential to be a part of the front half of the staff. The fastball sits 88-91 mph, a power arm for this staff. Next up are a handful of right-handers. Cade Miller has run the fastball to 89-92 mph this fall, Jackson Dial sitting 89-92 with a solid breaking ball, Andrew Paulson sitting 90-94 mph also with a solid breaking ball to pair, and Jaison DeLamar sitting 89-93 mph with a changeup to match.

Now rounding out the freshmen and staff are three more arms. Right-hander Brennan Miller has been sitting 90-93 mph, a physical frame with front-line arm potential. Left-hander Brett Hoelscher had his fastball reaching 92 mph, sitting 88-90 mph, with a slider and changeup sitting 78-82 mph. This is an arm able to create swing-and-misses at the next level. Now rounding out this freshman class is one more left-hander in Adam Kudronowicz, out of Wisconsin. We have seen him up to 88 mph, but also 97.7 mph with the bat. So don’t be shocked if you see the lefty getting time with the bat as well.

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OFFENSE

When returning four everyday starters and only losing seven total bats, there is a lot to be excited about when it comes to the offensive side of the ball for Iowa Western. Expect the lineup to carry the early load as the pitching staff adjusts to its newly defined responsibilities. The headlining returners for Iowa Western are OF Nolan Geislinger and OF Kane Wilson. Geislinger comes off a dominant freshman year, during which he slashed .342/.451/.447 with nine doubles, two home runs, and 36 RBIs. After a strong showing in the Northwoods League over the summer, it has carried over to the fall as the lefty bat looks set to have an impressive year two. Looking to be his counterpart in the lineup is Wilson, who in his first year slashed .331/.447/.594 with 11 doubles, nine home runs, and 48 RBIs. This duo creates a feared top half of the order that will look to lead the Reivers heading into the spring.

Now, while those two look to head the lineup, there is still sophomore depth throughout the lineup. 1B/OF Charlie Kalbrener looks to extend his strong freshman year after slashing .313/.432/.667, with 10 doubles, 13 homeruns, and 38 RBIs. A power bat, looking to take a more defined role in the field, he will sit well in the middle of the order. Behind him is INF Kayden Anderson, who found himself late in the season last year and has continued that moment into the fall. In his first year, he slashed .289/.389/.444, with six doubles and 17 RBIs. It was a slow start for Anderson, but in May, after seeing consistent playing time, the righty began to find development with the bat. After that, INF Dane Most comes into the picture after a freshman year where he saw split starting time, slashing .303/.441/.371, with six doubles, and 17 RBIs. Looking to have a set role this spring after putting together a strong fall, any time we got eyes on him. Cleaning up the infield is Josh Donna, who slashed .380/.492/.520, with three doubles and 14 RBIs. A promising bat in the lineup looking to see valuable time after only seeing 50 at-bats last year.

Charlie Kalbrener from: 9/26/25

Then, rounding out the sophomore class are the two looking to fight it out behind the plate, C Noah Kubo and C Owen Baxter, each seeing under 65 at-bats last season. Kubo is working off a freshman year where he slashed .328/.484/.500, with two home runs and 19 RBIs. At the same time, Baxter slashed .273/.442/.455, with five extra-base hits, and six RBIs. As these bats continue to develop, it will become hard to leave them out of the lineup heading into the spring.

Two sophomore transfers looking to make their marks this spring are Martin Serrano and Mike Valdivia. Serrano is an Oregon State transfer from behind the plate, looking to battle out for the starting spot and find different ways to impact the lineup. An athletic defender with some pop behind the bat lookig to make an immediate impact. Then, with Valdivia, this is an infield transfer from Tulane and Wharton set to add more depth to the infield. An athletic defender that reaches 88 mph across the diamond with 100 mph EV. Look for these two to continue their development and find their way heading into the spring.

While the strong class of returning sophmores there is still room within the lineup for freshmen to make an impact. Two that have caught our eyes throughout the infield are 2B/OF Dylan England and SS Amarensio Franka. This is an athletic duo that looks to continue developing with the bat as they look to become major contributors within the lineup. Two more infielders primed to see time are MIF Jayden Nakamura and 1B Adam Kudronowicz. Nakamura is a big defender looking to add even more depth up the middle, while Kudronowicz is a physical frame looking to add some more power throughout the lineup. Then, looking to round out the lineup are Tory Peltz and Griffin Novacek. Each of these players is set to play major roles this season as athletic defenders with strong arms and bats that continue to develop, with the ability to make some noise.

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4-Year Commitments

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