Ottumwa, IA – Seven members of the Indian Hills Softball program are set to move on to the next level heading into the new year. The group of Warrior alums have committed to four-year universities for the 2025-26 campaign.
The group helped lead the Warriors to back-to-back appearances in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Region 11 Championship series while winning a combined 67 games, including the 2025 Iowa Community College Athletic Conference (ICCAC) regular season title. The Warriors saw success both on the field and in the classroom, earning back-to-back NJCAA Academic Team of the Year and National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Team Academic honors.
Jordyn Beck – Baker University
Beck will head to Baker University, an NAIA program in Baldwin City, KS where the Wildcats went 31-19 overall last season while advancing to the NAIA National Tournament.
Beck appeared in 30 career games in the circle for the Warriors over the past two seasons, posting a team-high five saves as a sophomore in 2025. Beck was a two-time NJCAA All-Academic selection, including first-team honors as a sophomore, while collecting four ICCAC Academic All-Region First-Team honors. Beck was a two-time NFCA All-America Scholar Athlete
Shanna Buford – Truman State University
Buford will suit up for head coach Ron Ferrill and the Truman State Bulldogs in 2026. Truman State posted a 26-25 overall record a year ago, the team's most wins since 2019.
In her lone season with the Warriors in 2025, Buford earned NJCAA All-Region honors as the team's primary shortstop. Buford was named to the NJCAA All-Academic First-Team and was a two-time ICCAC Academic All-Region First-Team selection. Buford earned NFCA All-America Scholar-Athlete honors for the Warriors.
Courtney Locke – Minnesota State University Moorhead
A two-year member of the Warriors, Locke will head to Minnesota State Moorhead where the Dragons advanced to the NSIC Tournament last season under first-year head coach Vannessa Kellems.
Locke earned NJCAA Region 11 Second-Team honors as a sophomore in 2025 after posting the third-highest batting average for the Warriors with a .374 clip. Locke tallied five home runs on the year to go along with 31 RBI. In two seasons with the Warriors, Locke was a two-time NJCAA All-Academic selection, including a first-team honoree as a sophomore. Locke was a two-time NFCA All-America Scholar-Athlete for the Warriors.
Peyton Raley – Southern Arkansas University
A two-year standout for the Warriors, Raley will suit up for the Muleriders at Southern Arkansas. Under the direction of head coach Jason Anderson, Southern Arkansas posted a 43-10 overall record a year ago while advancing to the NCAA DII Central Region Tournament.
Raley was a two-time NJCAA Region 11 First-Team selection as the Warriors' primary centerfielder over the past two seasons, appearing in all 107 contests throughout her career. Raley posted a career .374 batting average, collecting 129 career hits, including 20 for extra bases. Raley was a two-time NJCAA All-Academic First-Team and NFCA All-America Scholar-Athlete for the Warriors, and was selected to the College Sports Communicators Academic All-District team.
Ashlynn Sheets – Drake University
Sheets will stay in-state as the southpaw will head to NCAA DI Drake to compete for former Indian Hills Softball Head Coach Lindsay Diehl. The bulldogs advanced to the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament a year ago.
Sheets served as the team's ace in the circle as a sophomore and wrapped up her Indian Hills career with 30 wins and 212 strikeouts. Sheets was a two-time NJCAA Region 11 selection, including a spot on the first-team as a sophomore. Sheets was a two-time NJCAA All-Academic and NFCA All-America Scholar-Athlete for the Warriors to go along with four ICCAC Academic All-Region First-Team honors.
Ava Smith – Winona State University
Following a standout two-year career at Indian Hills, Smith will head to Winona State to compete for head coach Greg Jones who has been at the helm for 25 seasons. The Warriors posted 42 wins a year ago and advanced to the NSIC Tournament Championship game.
Smith starred for the Warriors over the last two seasons, earning ICCAC Offensive Player of the Year honors in 2025 after leading the conference with a .489 batting average, the eighth-highest single season mark in school history. Smith wrapped up her career with a lifetime .433 batting average and 24 home runs. Smith was twice named an NJCAA All-Academic and NFCA All-America Scholar-Athlete while earning College Sports Communicators Second-Team Academic All-American® honors.
Yarah Zuiver – Baker University
Zuiver will head to Baker to compete for head coach Tony Austin and the Wildcats for the upcoming 2025-26 campaign.
Zuiver, who appeared in 80 career games for the Warriors, garnered NJCAA All-Region 11 Second-Team honors as a sophomore in 2025 after posting a career-high .321 batting average on the year. Zuiver was twice named to the NJAA All-Academic team and was a two-time NFCA All-America Scholar-Athlete.
The Indian Hills Softball program has now seen 27 student-athletes move on to the four-year level since 2022.
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