Meet the Newcomers: 2025 Michigan Softball
11/19/2024 3:46:00 PM | Softball
The Michigan softball program welcomed seven freshmen and a sophomore transfer in its 2024-25 class of newcomers. With nearly three months of school and several fall ball games under their belts, they are now settled in as new Wolverines. Learn more about them off the field, what drives them to be their best and what led them to choose Ann Arbor as their college softball home.
By William Calhoun
Megan Beemer | OF | Hudsonville, Mich.
Q. What stood out about Michigan that led you to come to Ann Arbor?
A. What stood out to me about Michigan was the culture and tradition rooted within the university. I loved the campus; although Ann Arbor is a big city, it felt small and like home when I visited. The coaching staff, players and alumni are also amazing at Michigan softball.
Q. What are you most excited about for your first season as a Wolverine?
A. I am most excited to grow with the team and celebrate with each other. In the short time I have been here, I have felt the love and care the team has for one another, and I am excited to become a part of that this season.
Q. What is your earliest softball memory?
A. My earliest softball memory is me playing T-ball with my two older sisters and my dad coaching us.
Q. When you're not playing softball, what do you enjoy doing most?
A. I love hanging out with my friends and family. Something I love to do is try new restaurants in Ann Arbor when my parents come and visit me.
Q. What is the best piece of advice a coach has given you?
A. The best piece of advice I got from a coach was to "focus on the process, not the outcome," meaning focus on getting better every day, and the outcome will play out for itself. Worrying too much about the outcome of our sport will take away from the grind and progress you make every single day.
Q. How would you describe your mentality when stepping onto the softball field?
A. My mentality is to simply compete and control what I can control. During practice and games, my mindset doesn't change. I compete every chance I get and stay present in the moment.
• Favorite song: "Sun to Me" by Zach Bryan
• Favorite fictional character: Katniss Everdeen
• Favorite athlete of all time: Simone Biles
• Best friend(s) on the team: All of the outfielders
• Go-to pregame meal: PB&J
• An unusual food combination you love: Pretzels and cream cheese
• Favorite plane seat: Exit row
• A celebrity you'd love to meet: Kevin Hart
Reganne Bennett | RHP/IF | Novi, Mich.
Q. What stood out about Michigan that led you to come to Ann Arbor?
A. I loved the passion that came from all of the coaches when talking to them while I was in the portal. I knew that they would be truly invested in my success and development.
Q. What are you most excited about for your first season as a Wolverine?
A. I am super excited to get the chance to play our first game in February. I grew up a Michigan fan so getting to wear the maize and blue is the best feeling!
Q. What is your earliest softball memory?
A. My earliest softball memory is when I was playing rec ball with my mom as my coach. I remember one game when I hit my first ball to the fence and got a triple. I was so excited that I could celebrate with my mom as the third-base coach.
Q. When you're not playing softball, what do you enjoy doing most?
A. I love spending quality time with my friends and family. A lot of times, this includes just hanging out, watching TV or playing pickleball
Q. What is the best piece of advice a coach has given you?
A. To breathe and slow the game down so I can go at my own pace and dominate on the field.
Q. How would you describe your mentality when stepping onto the softball field?
A. I like to go onto the field with confidence. I believe I am the best person on the field, whether on the mound or in the batter's box. I know that nobody can beat me. This gives me confidence so that I can go out and play carefree.
• Favorite song: "August" by Taylor Swift
• Favorite fictional character: Phoebe from Friends
• Favorite athlete of all time: Miguel Cabrera
• Best friend(s) on the team: Everybody
• Go-to pregame meal: Chicken, rice and a side salad
• An unusual food combination you love: Picky eater
• Favorite plane seat: Window
• A celebrity you'd love to meet: The Rock and Kevin Hart
Andee Dircks | IF | Chapin, S.C.
Q. What stood out about Michigan that led you to come to Ann Arbor?
A. I decided to come to Michigan because of the outstanding team culture and the university's excellence in academics.
Q. What are you most excited about for your first season as a Wolverine?
A. I'm mostly excited to have the opportunity to play with this amazing group of girls. Being out on the field with them has truly been great.
Q. What is your earliest softball memory?
A. The earliest memory that I have of softball is hitting my first in-the-park home run at one of my T-ball games. All my friends were shocked that I was about to hit the ball so far.
Q. When you're not playing softball, what do you enjoy doing most?
A. If I'm in the mood to stay indoors, I enjoy reading, but otherwise, I enjoy going on walks or hiking.
Q. What is the best piece of advice a coach has given you?
A. Learning to encourage myself with positive self-talk has probably been the best piece of advice that a coach has given me so far; it truly helps me when I'm struggling.
Q. How would you describe your mentality when stepping onto the softball field?
A. When I step onto the field, I always repeat positive affirmations to myself to ensure that I have a positive mindset.
• Favorite song: "Umbrella" by Rihanna
• Favorite fictional character: Hermione
• Favorite athlete of all time: Simone Biles
• Best friend(s) on the team: Reganne, Kat and Lauren (and everybody else)
• Go-to pregame meal: Chicken and pasta
• An unusual food combination you love: Popcorn and Cheez-Its
• Favorite plane seat: Window
• A celebrity you'd love to meet: Rihanna
Haley Ferguson | RHP/UT | Fairborn, Ohio
Q. What stood out about Michigan that led you to come to Ann Arbor?
A. What stood out to me was that it felt like home, and the team seemed like family.
Q. What are you most excited about for your first season as a Wolverine?
A. Game day!
Q. What is your earliest softball memory?
A. Playing T-ball and my first-grade teacher coming to watch me play. I also remember throwing the ball over the backstop top my first-ever pitching lesson.
Q. When you're not playing softball, what do you enjoy doing most?
A. Spending time with friends and shopping.
Q. What is the best piece of advice a coach has given you?
A. It's a good day to have a good day.
Q. How would you describe your mentality when stepping onto the softball field?
A. Confident and locked in.
• Favorite song: "Hey Driver" by The War and Treaty and Zach Bryan
• Favorite fictional character: Simba
• Favorite athlete of all time: Jennie Finch
• Best friend(s) on the team: Lauren and Kat
• Go-to pregame meal: Chick-fil-A
• An unusual food combination you love: Only usual food combinations
• Favorite plane seat: Window
• A celebrity you'd love to meet: Adam Sandler
Kat Meyers | RHP | Waterville, Ohio
Q. What stood out about Michigan that led you to come to Ann Arbor?
A. I loved how big and lively the campus was and the incredible academics! I know I am attending an institution that values its students and athletes while getting the highest level of education.
Q. What are you most excited about for your first season as a Wolverine?
A. I am most excited about the competition of the in-season conference games and improving my mental and physical game.
Q. What is your earliest softball memory?
A. Pitching in my backyard with my dad when I was 7 or 8, and my first travel season at that age.
Q. When you're not playing softball, what do you enjoy doing most?
A. I enjoy hanging out with my teammates and doing relaxing things in my dorm, like reading and coloring.
Q. What is the best piece of advice a coach has given you?
A. Just taking every game one pitch at a time and not letting the previous pitch affect the next.
Q. How would you describe your mentality when stepping onto the softball field?
A. I think that I have a very calm, yet passionate game when I am pitching.
• Favorite song: "How to Save a Life" by The Fray and "The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived" by Taylor Swift
• Favorite fictional character: Nemo
• Favorite athlete of all time: Sierra Romero or Katie Ledecky
• Best friend(s) on the team: All the newcomers!
• Go-to pregame meal: Either a turkey sandwich or Uncrustables, sun chips, Cliff bar/granola bar, banana
• An unusual food combination you love: Cheez-It and fruit snack sandwiches
• Favorite plane seat: Window in the front
• A celebrity you'd love to meet: Billie Eilish or Jacob Elordi
Jenna Ouellette | UT | Chelsea, Mich.
Q. What stood out about Michigan that led you to come to Ann Arbor?
A. The University of Michigan is a school that is dedicated to all-around excellence. There is no other university that has such a great balance of academics and athletics while continuously living up to its title of "The Leaders and the Best." The culture can be competitive at times but the support system is unmatched. I love the campus, and Ann Arbor truly feels like home.
Q. What are you most excited about for your first season as a Wolverine?
A. I am most excited about traveling with the team! I am looking forward to seeing new places and exploring new campuses, especially with schools on the West Coast being added to the Big Ten. I think spending time with the team on these trips will be full of good memories and lots of fun.
Q. What is your earliest softball memory?
A. Growing up, I was a part of my local T-ball teams, and it is the reason that I have met many of my best friends. I remember hitting the ball off the tee for the first time and getting to run all the way around the bases. I knew from that moment of joy that softball was the sport for me.
Q. When you're not playing softball, what do you enjoy doing most?
A. When I'm not playing softball, I love to travel! I have visited 40 of the 50 states, my favorites being Alaska, Hawaii, and Utah. I have also had the opportunity to travel to many countries, including Switzerland and Aruba. Whether skiing, hiking or just relaxing on the beach, traveling has allowed me to discover so many new places and create lifelong memories.
Q. What is the best piece of advice a coach has given you?
A. Softball is a game that is really easy to get wrapped up in. It is a game of failure, and sometimes, consistent failure can truly impact your mental health. My best piece of advice that came from my high school softball coach is, "At the end of the day, it's just a game." There is so much more to life than softball.
Q. How would you describe your mentality when stepping onto the softball field?
A. When I step onto the field, I strive to stay calm, collected and confident. Staying mentally tough is a huge part of the game, and my goal is to stay in a positive but competitive mindset.
• Favorite song: "God Speed" by Zach Bryan
• Favorite fictional character: Tow Mater
• Favorite athlete of all time: Kobe Bryant
• Best friend(s) on the team: Megan Beemer, Cece Thorington, Madi Ramey
• Go-to pregame meal: Chicken and rice
• An unusual food combination you love: Pizza and ranch
• Favorite plane seat: Window
• A celebrity you'd love to meet: Theo James
Lauren Putz | UT | Phoenix, Ariz
Q. What stood out about Michigan that led you to come to Ann Arbor?
A. The academics and softball program stood out to me and led me to come to Michigan. The atmosphere of being on campus, at a softball game, or football game brought me so much joy and I knew I wanted to be a part of this atmosphere and join the leaders and the best.
Q. What are you most excited about for your first season as a Wolverine?
A. I am most excited to start traveling with the team for the first time and visiting new places as a Wolverine.
Q. What is your earliest softball memory?
A. My earliest softball memory is waking up at 5 a.m. with my mom to go to a softball game at 8 a.m., playing a girl from my middle school, winning the game, and grabbing breakfast with my mom afterwards.
Q. When you're not playing softball, what do you enjoy doing most?
A. When I'm not playing softball, I enjoy playing pickleball with my friends and family, hiking, driving around with my siblings and just being with my family.
Q. What is the best piece of advice a coach has given you?
A. The best piece of advice a coach has given me is, "Be Better. If it's the best you can be, you can always be better.""
Q. How would you describe your mentality when stepping onto the softball field?
A. I would describe my mentality as strong and confident while staying in the present moment and taking one play at a time.
• Favorite song: "Greatest Love Story" by LANCO
• Favorite fictional character: Spider-Man
• Favorite athlete of all time: Serena Williams
• Best friend(s) on the team: Haley, Lilly, and Reganne (pretty much everyone)
• Go-to pregame meal: Chicken Caesar salad
• An unusual food combination you love: Applesauce and cottage cheese
• Favorite plane seat: Aisle
• A celebrity you'd love to meet: Chris Hemsworth
Cece Thorington | OF | Pinckney, Mich.
Q. What stood out about Michigan that led you to come to Ann Arbor?
A. So many things, but one thing that really stood out was the fan base and atmosphere surrounding the athletics here.
Q. What are you most excited about for your first season as a Wolverine?
A. I'm excited to face some high competition and get on the field with the girls.
Q. What is your earliest softball memory?
A. My earliest softball memory is hitting a home run in T-ball and getting ice cream after the game.
Q. When you're not playing softball, what do you enjoy doing most?
A. When I'm not playing softball, I love going on walks or runs.
Q. What is the best piece of advice a coach has given you?
A. You miss 100 percent of the shots you don't take.
Q. How would you describe your mentality when stepping onto the softball field?
A. My mentality is that absolutely nothing can stop me or the team.
• Favorite song: "Banana Pancakes" by Jack Johnson
• Favorite fictional character: Patrick Star
• Favorite athlete of all time: Gabby Thomas
• Best friend(s) on the team: Megan and Jenna
• Go-to pregame meal: Whatever the pregame meal is
• An unusual food combination you love: Bacon and Syrup
• Favorite plane seat: Window
• A celebrity you'd love to meet: Will Ferrell
