Northwestern University Athletics
Drohan Welcomes Eight Wildcats to Class of 2027
11/11/2022 1:16:00 PM | Softball
EVANSTON, Ill. – Northwestern Softball added eight new Wildcats to their incoming Class of 2027, head coach Kate Drohan announced on Friday as part of the National Signing Period Opening.
"We are so excited to welcome this incoming group of Wildcats to our Northwestern Softball family," Drohan said. "This group is versatile, competitive, focused, and extremely hardworking. Their love for the game and determination to get better will make an immediate impact on our program, and we cannot wait to see them on the field playing at The J."
More information on the Wildcats' signing class below:
Emma Raye – C/IF
Hits: R
Throws: R
Superior, Wisconsin | Superior Senior High School
High School: 2022 Wisconsin FSCA Division 1 Player of the Year … Named both All-State and All-Region in 2021 and 2022 … Team MVP in 2021 and 2022 … Hit .542 and led her team with 24 RBI, 31 runs scored and 40 hits … Earned four varsity letters in both softball and basketball … 2022 team captain … Played eight years of club softball for Midwest Speed and head coach Sean Hall … Parents are Stephanie and Patrick Raye ... Extra Innings Softball Ranking No. 34 in the nation.
Drohan on Raye: "Emma Raye is a force on the softball field because of her talent, her motor and versatility. She plays the game with incredible physicality and joy. We are looking forward to seeing her at The J."
Ainsley Muno – IF
Hits: R
Throws: R
Barrington, Illinois | Barrington High School
High School: 2022 Second Team All-State, MSL West All-Conference, and All-Area Cook County … 2021 Third Team All-State and MSL West All-Conference … Hit .505 with 44 RBIs, 56 hits, 12 doubles, seven home runs, and one triple her sophomore season. As a junior, batted .483 with a .578 on-base percentage and .917 slugging percentage, along with 60 RBI and 15 home runs … Plays club softball for Illinois Chill Gold Fastpitch under head coach Gerry Quinn … Parents are Martha and John Muno. Father, John, is a grad of Northwestern's Pritzker School of Law ('04) ... Extra Innings Softball Ranking No. 65 in the nation.
Drohan on Muno: "I can't wait to watch Ainsley pound the ball off of Welsh-Ryan Arena. She has great power and great calmness around the game. Her softball IQ is off the charts because of her background with Barrington High School and the IL Chill."
Isabel Cunnea – OF
Hits: R
Throws: R
Oak Lawn, Illinois | Marist High School
High School: Team captain junior and senior year … Named All-State in 2021, All-Conference in 2021 and 2022, and All-Area in 2021 and 2022 … Hit .455 with a .911 slugging percentage, recording eight doubles, 12 home runs, 61 RBI, and 29 runs scored as a sophomore … In her junior season, recorded a .363 batting average and .784 slugging percentage, along with 37 hits, eight doubles, 11 home runs, 41 RBI and 28 runs scored … Led the RedHawks to a 38-1 record and state championship in 2021 under head coach Colleen Phelan … Plays club softball for Beverly Bandits 18u with head coach Rona Dorsey … National Honors Society and Spanish National Honors Society inductee … Parents are Jeanine and John Cunnea ... Extra Innings Softball Ranking No. 56 in the nation
Drohan on Cunnea: "Izzy is a winner, playing for both Marist High School and the Bandits. Her power, speed and defensive skills will impact our team right away."
Riley Grudzielanek – P/IF
Hits: R
Throws: R
Oak Creek, Wisconsin | Oak Creek High School
High School: 2021 and 2022 First Team All-State … 2021 Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel Player of the Year … 2021 and 2022 All-Conference Pitcher of the Year … 2021 and 2022 First Team All-District and First-Team All-Conference … Set the Wisconsin state record with 22 strikeouts in a seven-inning game against Kenosha Bradford/Reuther on April 4, 2022 … Has thrown four no-hitters in two seasons of high school play … Holds Oak Creek High School's single-season home run record (9) and strikeout record (332) … Lettered three seasons in basketball and earned All-Conference Honorable Mention and team Defensive Player of the Year in 2020-21 … As a sophomore, hit .464 (49-for-84) with a .561 OBP and .881 slugging percentage, along with nine home runs, and 36 RBI in 27 games at the plate … Went 10-1 in the circle, compiling a 0.52 ERA, 0.65 WHIP, and 175 strikeouts in 81.1 innings pitched … In her junior season, tallied a.429 batting average (36-for-84), .500 OBP, .655 slugging percentage, five home runs, 23 RBI. And 13 runs scored, along with a 20-4 record in the circle, 0.51 ERA, and 332 strikeouts in 165 innings pitched … Played club softball for Velocity 18U National (2022), BATS Academy (2020-21) and Wisconsin Bandits (2019) … Uncle, Mark Grudzielanek, played 15 years in MLB for six teams, including the Chicago Cubs … Parents are Tom and Nikki Grudzielanek … Tom Played basketball for Carthage College, where he graduated as the all-time steals leader in program history … National Honors Society member.
Drohan on Grudzielanek: "Riley is a hard-throwing, athletic pitcher who is a true competitor. We love how she attacks the zone and challenges hitters. We can't wait for our team to play behind her."
Signe Dohse – P/UTL
Hits: R
Throws: R
Hopkins, Minnesota | Hopkins High School
High School: Lettered five years in softball … Team captain senior year … Five time All-Conference … 2022 All-Metro … 2021 and 2022 Team MVP … 2022 All-State Tournament Team … Junior Olympic gymnast for 10 years before pursuing softball … Tallied a .462 batting average, 1.437 OPS and five home runs, along with a 1.83 ERA and 115 strikeouts in the circle in 2022 … Hit .523 with nine home runs, 22 RBI and a 1.665 OPS as a sophomore in 2021, also recorded 118 strikeouts and a .113 opponent batting average in the circle … Threw a no-hitter in section championships … Holds the Minnesota state record for triples in the state tournament … Threw a no hitter and hit three home runs in the section semifinals … Played three seasons for MN Renegades with head coach Maddie Muelken … Father, Dan, was a wrestler at UW-LaCrosse … Mother, Marit, ran cross-country and track at Luther College … Honor roll student.
Drohan on Dohse: "Signe can play all over the field while also being able to spin the ball really well from the mound. An excellent student of the game and in the classroom, we are honored Signe chose Northwestern."
Grace Minarovic – IF
Hits: R
Throws: R
The Woodlands, Texas | The John Cooper School
High School: Four-year team captain … 2022 Dallas Morning News First Team All-District Hit .667 as a first-year, .545 as a sophomore, and .429 with eight home runs and 22 stolen bases as a junior … All sports Newcomer of the Year in 2020 … 2x Team MVP … Holds career home run record and single-season home run record at The John Cooper School … Plays club softball for Texas Sudden Impact and head coach Todd Leach… Parents are Mike and Jane Minarovic … Brother, Evan, plays baseball at Northwestern … High honor roll student.
Drohan on Minarovic: "Grace will bring speed and athleticism to our team along with a great spark on defense. Our team will rely on Grace's work ethic and determination."
Renae Cunningham – IF/P
Hits: R
Throws: R
Heath, Ohio | Heath High School
High School: 2022 LCL-Cardinal Player of the Year … Division II Ohioan Advocate Player of the Year … Hit .520 with 15 home runs, and posted a .97 ERA in 109.2 innings pitched as a sophomore … As a junior, hit .605 with 20 home runs, a 2.195 OPS, 31 walks, and only two strikeouts, along with a 1.43 ERA and 143 strikeouts in 117 innings in the circle … First Team All-State in 2021 and 2022 … 2021 Pitcher of the Year … Also has played three seasons of volleyball as an outside and middle hitter … Led her team to two league championships, two district championships, and a regional championship … Plays club softball for Beverly Bandits 18u with head coach Rona Dorsey … Parents are Jackie and Torran Cunningham ... Extra Innings Softball Ranking No 32 in the nation.
Drohan on Cunningham: "Renae has game changing power at the plate and throws a really heavy ball from the mound. She elevates the game and the play of everyone around her."
Hannah Cushing –OF
Hits: R
Throws: R
Los Altos, California | Saint Francis High School
High School: In 2022, helped St. Francis High School win the inaugural NorCal Division 1 championship. Plays Club Softball for Warrior Academy with head coach Ray McDonald… Helped lead the Warriors to the 2022 Triple Crown National Championship … Claimed the 16U Tier 1 Alliance Fastpitch National Championship in Oklahoma in 2021, hit .386 (17-for-44) during the Championship series … Parents are Jim ('90) and Katherine Cushing ('90) … Father, Jim, played men's tennis at Northwestern and won a Big Ten Championship for the Wildcats in 1990.
Drohan on Cushing: "Hannah's love of Northwestern and her drive to achieve excellence has been inspiring. We have seen her dominate on the field during championship play and we can't wait for her to get to Northwestern."
"We are so excited to welcome this incoming group of Wildcats to our Northwestern Softball family," Drohan said. "This group is versatile, competitive, focused, and extremely hardworking. Their love for the game and determination to get better will make an immediate impact on our program, and we cannot wait to see them on the field playing at The J."
More information on the Wildcats' signing class below:
Emma Raye – C/IF
Hits: R
Throws: R
Superior, Wisconsin | Superior Senior High School
High School: 2022 Wisconsin FSCA Division 1 Player of the Year … Named both All-State and All-Region in 2021 and 2022 … Team MVP in 2021 and 2022 … Hit .542 and led her team with 24 RBI, 31 runs scored and 40 hits … Earned four varsity letters in both softball and basketball … 2022 team captain … Played eight years of club softball for Midwest Speed and head coach Sean Hall … Parents are Stephanie and Patrick Raye ... Extra Innings Softball Ranking No. 34 in the nation.
Drohan on Raye: "Emma Raye is a force on the softball field because of her talent, her motor and versatility. She plays the game with incredible physicality and joy. We are looking forward to seeing her at The J."
Ainsley Muno – IF
Hits: R
Throws: R
Barrington, Illinois | Barrington High School
High School: 2022 Second Team All-State, MSL West All-Conference, and All-Area Cook County … 2021 Third Team All-State and MSL West All-Conference … Hit .505 with 44 RBIs, 56 hits, 12 doubles, seven home runs, and one triple her sophomore season. As a junior, batted .483 with a .578 on-base percentage and .917 slugging percentage, along with 60 RBI and 15 home runs … Plays club softball for Illinois Chill Gold Fastpitch under head coach Gerry Quinn … Parents are Martha and John Muno. Father, John, is a grad of Northwestern's Pritzker School of Law ('04) ... Extra Innings Softball Ranking No. 65 in the nation.
Drohan on Muno: "I can't wait to watch Ainsley pound the ball off of Welsh-Ryan Arena. She has great power and great calmness around the game. Her softball IQ is off the charts because of her background with Barrington High School and the IL Chill."
Isabel Cunnea – OF
Hits: R
Throws: R
Oak Lawn, Illinois | Marist High School
High School: Team captain junior and senior year … Named All-State in 2021, All-Conference in 2021 and 2022, and All-Area in 2021 and 2022 … Hit .455 with a .911 slugging percentage, recording eight doubles, 12 home runs, 61 RBI, and 29 runs scored as a sophomore … In her junior season, recorded a .363 batting average and .784 slugging percentage, along with 37 hits, eight doubles, 11 home runs, 41 RBI and 28 runs scored … Led the RedHawks to a 38-1 record and state championship in 2021 under head coach Colleen Phelan … Plays club softball for Beverly Bandits 18u with head coach Rona Dorsey … National Honors Society and Spanish National Honors Society inductee … Parents are Jeanine and John Cunnea ... Extra Innings Softball Ranking No. 56 in the nation
Drohan on Cunnea: "Izzy is a winner, playing for both Marist High School and the Bandits. Her power, speed and defensive skills will impact our team right away."
Riley Grudzielanek – P/IF
Hits: R
Throws: R
Oak Creek, Wisconsin | Oak Creek High School
High School: 2021 and 2022 First Team All-State … 2021 Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel Player of the Year … 2021 and 2022 All-Conference Pitcher of the Year … 2021 and 2022 First Team All-District and First-Team All-Conference … Set the Wisconsin state record with 22 strikeouts in a seven-inning game against Kenosha Bradford/Reuther on April 4, 2022 … Has thrown four no-hitters in two seasons of high school play … Holds Oak Creek High School's single-season home run record (9) and strikeout record (332) … Lettered three seasons in basketball and earned All-Conference Honorable Mention and team Defensive Player of the Year in 2020-21 … As a sophomore, hit .464 (49-for-84) with a .561 OBP and .881 slugging percentage, along with nine home runs, and 36 RBI in 27 games at the plate … Went 10-1 in the circle, compiling a 0.52 ERA, 0.65 WHIP, and 175 strikeouts in 81.1 innings pitched … In her junior season, tallied a.429 batting average (36-for-84), .500 OBP, .655 slugging percentage, five home runs, 23 RBI. And 13 runs scored, along with a 20-4 record in the circle, 0.51 ERA, and 332 strikeouts in 165 innings pitched … Played club softball for Velocity 18U National (2022), BATS Academy (2020-21) and Wisconsin Bandits (2019) … Uncle, Mark Grudzielanek, played 15 years in MLB for six teams, including the Chicago Cubs … Parents are Tom and Nikki Grudzielanek … Tom Played basketball for Carthage College, where he graduated as the all-time steals leader in program history … National Honors Society member.
Drohan on Grudzielanek: "Riley is a hard-throwing, athletic pitcher who is a true competitor. We love how she attacks the zone and challenges hitters. We can't wait for our team to play behind her."
Signe Dohse – P/UTL
Hits: R
Throws: R
Hopkins, Minnesota | Hopkins High School
High School: Lettered five years in softball … Team captain senior year … Five time All-Conference … 2022 All-Metro … 2021 and 2022 Team MVP … 2022 All-State Tournament Team … Junior Olympic gymnast for 10 years before pursuing softball … Tallied a .462 batting average, 1.437 OPS and five home runs, along with a 1.83 ERA and 115 strikeouts in the circle in 2022 … Hit .523 with nine home runs, 22 RBI and a 1.665 OPS as a sophomore in 2021, also recorded 118 strikeouts and a .113 opponent batting average in the circle … Threw a no-hitter in section championships … Holds the Minnesota state record for triples in the state tournament … Threw a no hitter and hit three home runs in the section semifinals … Played three seasons for MN Renegades with head coach Maddie Muelken … Father, Dan, was a wrestler at UW-LaCrosse … Mother, Marit, ran cross-country and track at Luther College … Honor roll student.
Drohan on Dohse: "Signe can play all over the field while also being able to spin the ball really well from the mound. An excellent student of the game and in the classroom, we are honored Signe chose Northwestern."
Grace Minarovic – IF
Hits: R
Throws: R
The Woodlands, Texas | The John Cooper School
High School: Four-year team captain … 2022 Dallas Morning News First Team All-District Hit .667 as a first-year, .545 as a sophomore, and .429 with eight home runs and 22 stolen bases as a junior … All sports Newcomer of the Year in 2020 … 2x Team MVP … Holds career home run record and single-season home run record at The John Cooper School … Plays club softball for Texas Sudden Impact and head coach Todd Leach… Parents are Mike and Jane Minarovic … Brother, Evan, plays baseball at Northwestern … High honor roll student.
Drohan on Minarovic: "Grace will bring speed and athleticism to our team along with a great spark on defense. Our team will rely on Grace's work ethic and determination."
Renae Cunningham – IF/P
Hits: R
Throws: R
Heath, Ohio | Heath High School
High School: 2022 LCL-Cardinal Player of the Year … Division II Ohioan Advocate Player of the Year … Hit .520 with 15 home runs, and posted a .97 ERA in 109.2 innings pitched as a sophomore … As a junior, hit .605 with 20 home runs, a 2.195 OPS, 31 walks, and only two strikeouts, along with a 1.43 ERA and 143 strikeouts in 117 innings in the circle … First Team All-State in 2021 and 2022 … 2021 Pitcher of the Year … Also has played three seasons of volleyball as an outside and middle hitter … Led her team to two league championships, two district championships, and a regional championship … Plays club softball for Beverly Bandits 18u with head coach Rona Dorsey … Parents are Jackie and Torran Cunningham ... Extra Innings Softball Ranking No 32 in the nation.
Drohan on Cunningham: "Renae has game changing power at the plate and throws a really heavy ball from the mound. She elevates the game and the play of everyone around her."
Hannah Cushing –OF
Hits: R
Throws: R
Los Altos, California | Saint Francis High School
High School: In 2022, helped St. Francis High School win the inaugural NorCal Division 1 championship. Plays Club Softball for Warrior Academy with head coach Ray McDonald… Helped lead the Warriors to the 2022 Triple Crown National Championship … Claimed the 16U Tier 1 Alliance Fastpitch National Championship in Oklahoma in 2021, hit .386 (17-for-44) during the Championship series … Parents are Jim ('90) and Katherine Cushing ('90) … Father, Jim, played men's tennis at Northwestern and won a Big Ten Championship for the Wildcats in 1990.
Drohan on Cushing: "Hannah's love of Northwestern and her drive to achieve excellence has been inspiring. We have seen her dominate on the field during championship play and we can't wait for her to get to Northwestern."
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