Illinois Wesleyan Leads All-CCIW Softball Teams

Certa named Pitcher of the Year

5/6/2026 12:00:00 PM

NAPERVILLE, Ill. - The Illinois Wesleyan University softball team reeled in seven All-College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin selections and two specialty awards as the league office announced its postseason awards Wednesday, May 6. The CCIW Regular Season Champion Titans' seven selections were the most in the conference.

Senior Gianna Certa (Third Lake, Ill.-Grayslake North) was voted the CCIW Pitcher of the Year for the second time in her career and extended IWU's streak to three straight. Certa, who had previously earned the honor in 2024, follows Mallory Holland (Shelbyville, Ill.-Shelbyville) who garnered the distinction in 2025. Certa marks the 11th CCIW Pitcher of the Year award in program history, while she is the third Titan to earn it multiple times in a career. She joins Molly McCready (2012 & 2014) and Christy Engel (2008, 2009, 2010).

Certa was joined by seniors Casey Wissmiller (Bloomington, Ill.-Olympia) and Claire Post (Normal, Ill.-Normal West) as well as sophomore Jillian Bollard (Roselle, Ill.-Saint Viator) on the All-CCIW First Team. The Titans landed three others on the second team as sophomores Grace Wilkens (Bartlett, Ill.-Bartlett) and Kelsey Bartels (Downs, Ill.-Tri-Valley), and senior Anna Beckman (Bourbonnais, Ill.-Bishop McNamara) earned honors. Illinois Wesleyan was tabbed the CCIW's Coaching Staff of the Year for the fourth straight season, while junior Parker Cash (Galesburg, Ill.-Galesburg) was named IWU's CCIW RESPECT Award recipient.

Wissmiller snagged All-CCIW status for the fourth time in her career, while Post and Beckman grabbed the honor for the third time. Certa secured All-CCIW honors for the second time, while Bartels, Wilkens, and Bollard grabbed the first accolades of their careers.

Certa turned in another dominant year in the circle, compiling an 8-0 record around the CCIW for the second time in her career. The Third Lake, Ill. native posted a 0.71 earned run average over 49.0 innings of work, limiting opponents to a .223 batting average. Certa's ERA ranked second in the league, while her opposing average was third-best. The league's wins leader, Certa fanned a conference-best 53 over eight starts. She tossed six complete games with five shutouts. The senior righty threw a no-hitter against Carroll, April 25, behind a career-high 11 strikeouts. Certa was a three-time CCIW Pitcher of the Week awardee throughout the season.

Wissmiller topped the team in conference play with a .457 batting average. She cranked out 21 hits, scored 20 runs, and drove in 19 more. IWU's starting third baseman for each of the past four seasons, Wissmiller carried a slugging percentage of .804 and drew a team-high six walks. Wissmiller's OPS came in at 1.304 over the 16-game slate, while she tallied four doubles and four homers. A CCIW Hitter of the Week selection, she collected six multi-hit games. Across the conference, Wissmiller ranked inside the league's top-10 in nine categories. Her 19 RBIs were third-most in the CCIW, while her 20 runs scored were second-most. She was fifth in batting average, fourth in slugging, and eighth in on-base percentage.

One of the top catchers in the conference, Post batted .381 over 16 conference contests. She churned out 16 hits, with five extra-base knocks courtesy of four doubles and a homer. Post finished second on the team with 18 RBIs alongside nine runs scored. She tallied four multi-hit games at the plate while posting a 1.000 fielding percentage behind the plate.

Bollard landed first team honors in the utility slot after playing in 10 games between DP and catcher. The sophomore batted .350 with an on-base clip of .417. She whacked two doubles and walked three times, while striking out just once.

In her first season donning the Green and White, Bartels emerged as one of the top second basemen around the league. She hit a whopping .435 over 14 league games, with 20 hits, 12 runs scored, and five RBIs. Bartels swiped eight bases and turned three double plays defensively. She came in 10th in the CCIW in batting average and sixth in stolen bases. Bartels recorded a hit in 13 of 14 CCIW games she appeared in, posting multiple hits five times.

Illinois Wesleyan's cleanup hitter, Beckman turned in another sensational season as she transitioned from outfield to infield for her final year. The first-year shortstop ranked second on the team with a .444 batting average. She tallied 20 hits, with 16 runs scored, nine stolen bases, and 10 RBIs. Beckman was credited with one double and two triples. The Bourbonnais, Ill. native is sixth in the CCIW in batting average, fifth in stolen bases, seventh in runs scored, 10th in on-base percentage, and tied for third in triples.

An elite outfielder with a lengthy list of highlight-reel worthy plays, Wilkens hit .373 as IWU's everyday starter in center. She collected 19 hits and scored 14 runs, while leading the team with 10 stolen bases. The Titans' leadoff hitter, Wilkens ranked fourth in the CCIW in stolen bases and tied ninth in runs scored.

Illinois Wesleyan hosts the six-team CCIW Tournament Thursday-Saturday, May 7-9, at Inspiration Field. Games get underway at noon Thursday, May 7, with an elimination game between fourth-seeded North Central College and fifth-seeded Carthage College. The contest kicks off the tournament and a four-game day at Inspiration Field. The Titans are slated to play the winner of the game at 4 p.m. The full schedule can be found on the tournament central page here.

CCIW Offensive Student-Athlete of the Year
Clare Rettler, Carthage

CCIW Defensive Student-Athlete of the Year
Eden Baker, North Park

CCIW Pitcher of the Year
Gianna Certa, Illinois Wesleyan

CCIW First-Year Student-Athlete of the Year
Miabella Collazo, North Park

CCIW Coaching Staff of the Year
Illinois Wesleyan

All-CCIW First Team
C, Claire Post, Illinois Wesleyan
C, Ann Marie Meek, Millikin
1B, Aubrey Gradin, Augustana
2B, Miabella Collazo, North Park
3B, Casey Wissmiller, Illinois Wesleyan
SS, Alexis Duke, Augustana
OF, Gwen Hendrick, Carthage
OF, Clare Rettler, Carthage
OF, Charley Condill, Millikin
OF, Summer Wynn, Millikin
OF, Eden Baker, North Park
DP, Madi Bickell, Augustana
UT, Jillian Bollard, Illinois Wesleyan
P, Gianna Certa, Illinois Wesleyan
P, Juliana Maude, North Central

All-CCIW Second Team
C, Katie Patton, North Park
1B, Lauren Bowmar, North Central
2B, Bailey Proffitt, Elmhurst
2B, Kelsey Bartels, Illinois Wesleyan
2B, Grace Vlach, North Central
3B, Abby Willis, Millikin
SS, Anna Beckman, Illinois Wesleyan
SS, Kayla Lorenz, North Park
OF, Lindsay LaVine, Augustana
OF, Kaylee Aimone, Elmhurst
OF, Grace Wilkins, Illinois Wesleyan
UT, Kayla Crabtree, North Central
P, Mya Brown, Augustana
P, Alyssa Dralle, Millikin
P, Sam Schilf, North Central

CCIW RESPECT Award Recipients
Jenna Becker, Augustana
Jenna Andler, Carroll
Rachael Setterstrom, Carthage
Dani Hood, Elmhurst
Haley Willan, Millikin
Parker Cash, Illinois Wesleyan
Bailey Miller, North Central
Kayla Sapolu, North Park
Mia Reinhard, Wheaton

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