November 9, 2022

SIOUX FALLS – The University of Sioux Falls softball program, and head coach Shannon Pivovar, are excited to announce the addition of six athletes on National Signing Day.

"Every class you bring in is a special class that brings something special to Cougar Softball. These six young women are phenomenal human beings, they are amazing teammates, they have a very strong work ethic and have softball skills that, on-field, will make this family better. As a group they will make us laugh, challenge us, and of course propel us into the next chapter of Cougar Softball. This is a great combination of subtle and dynamic, soft-spoken and billboard loud, and each one is very genuine. We hit the jackpot with this group – we cannot wait for them to get to campus next fall!"

-Coach Pivovar on the 2023 signing class

 The members of the 2023 class include: Lynn Davis, Emily Gerardy, Madison Grant, Olivia Ott, Rylee Riesberg and Riley Schwisow.

Lynn Davis, Outfield, Omaha, NE / Millard North High School 

Lynn joins the Cougars from Omaha, Nebraska where she played softball and basketball at Millard North High School. As a junior, she was a 2nd Team All-State selection, and boasts a .398 career batting average. Davis played club ball for the Nebraska Gold U18 team. Following her senior season with the Mustangs, Davis was named to the Omaha World Herald (OWH) First Team All-Class All-State team as well as to the OWH First Team Class-A All-State and All-Metro Conference teams. Lynn is the daughter of Estella and Brandon, and she plans to pursue a degree in Business.

"Lynnie has a bulldog mentality – she is a one of a kind worker who does not let anyone work harder than her. She also has the best one liners and a top notch sense of humor. As a complete package, she is going to make our Cougar family better both on and off the field. We are lucky she is joining our family and gave us the best Christmas gift in her commitment - we cannot wait to get her on campus."

-Coach Pivovar on Lynn Davis

 

Emily Gerardy, Shortstop, Omaha, NE / Elkhorn South High School

Emily joins the Cougars from Omaha, Nebraska where she attended Elkhorn South High School. She ran track for three years and played softball for four years for the Elkhorn Storm. In 2020, Gerardy was an All-Metro Honorable Mention with a batting average of .419 and an on base percentage (OBP) of .498. During her junior season, she was named to the Nebraska All-Conference Academic Team, an All-State Lincoln Journal Star, an All-Conference Team member, and an All-State Honorable Mention all while maintaining a .463 batting average and an OBP of .523. Gerardy also played club ball for Nebraska Gold. Following her senior season with the Storm, Gerardy was named to the OWH second team All-Class All-State team as well as the OWH First Team Class-A All-State and All-Metro Conference teams. The daughter of Melissa and Daryl, Emily plans to major in Business with hopes to own a Real Estate group.

"Emily brings a very solid presence to the plate, a ton of speed on the bases, and a genuine personality that fits right into our team culture. She plays the game hard, loves her teammates and is going to be a fantastic addition to the Cougar family – we are so excited to get her here and officially make her a part of our crew."

-Coach Pivovar on Emily Gerardy

 

Madison Grant, Infield, Olathe, KS / Olathe West High School

Madison joins USF from Olathe, Kansas where she played softball for the Olathe Owls. Grant is a three year letter winner and was named the Defensive MVP her junior season. She currently plays club ball for the KC Rebels. Grant is also a member of the National Honor Society while also lettering academically the past three years. Madison is the daughter of Amy and Brian, and plans to study Psychology while at USF.  

"Madison was one of the first in the 2023 class to officially become a Cougar – so this day has been a long time coming! Madison is very athletic and has a very high ceiling. She is as genuinely loving and caring as they come and will be the glue that holds this class together. I am so thankful she is a Cougar and cannot wait for her to be on campus with us."

-Coach Pivovar on Madison Grant

 

Olivia Ott, Pitcher, Oconomowoc, WI / Oconomocwoc High School 

Olivia comes to USF from Oconomocwoc, Wisconsin where she played softball for the Raccoons of Oconomocwoc High School. As a sophomore and junior Ott was named 2nd Team All-Conference for pitching. Additionally, she was a scholar athlete her freshman and junior years. Following her junior season, Ott was named the Offensive Player of the Year as well as the Most Valuable Player. She played club for the Thundercats Sports Academy. Olivia is the daughter of Keith and Tammy, and plans to study Business in the fall with hopes to one day own her own business.

"Olivia is a fantastic human being that is going to be a wonderful addition to our Cougar family. A natural southpaw, she has a fantastic gift on the softball diamond and will be an immediate addition to our staff. Off the field, she will be a leader and genuine culture kid. We are excited she is going to be a Cougar."

-Coach Pivovar on Olivia Ott

 

Rylee Riesberg, Outfield, Ankeny, IA / Ankeny High School

Rylee comes to USF from Ankeny, Iowa where she attended Ankeny High School. Riesberg participated in track, basketball, and softball for the Hawks while also being named a three year letter winner in both softball and basketball. In 2022, as a junior, she was a CIML Iowa All-Conference Honorable Mention for softball. That season Riesberg tallied 26 hits with 18 singles, 7 doubles and 1 triple with 9 RBIs. She boasted a .337 batting average while maintaining an OBP of .419 and slugging percentage of .507. Rylee is the daughter of Kelly and Matt, and she plans to major in Exercise Science on a Pre-Professional track for Occupational Therapy.

"Rylee made us wait around until she decided this was the perfect fit for her – but she is worth the wait! Rylee is a gifted outfielder and swings a big bat all while covering a lot of ground patrolling the outfield grass. She is a soft-spoken, genuine young lady with the biggest heart and a wonderful personality. She is exactly what this class needed and we are excited to welcome her and her family to our Cougar family."

-Coach Pivovar on Rylee Riesberg

 

Riley Schwisow, Third Base, Beatrice, NE / Beatrice High School 

Riley comes to USF from Beatrice, Nebraska where she was a standout three sport athlete in softball, basketball and track. Schwisow is a 4-time varsity letter winner in softball, basketball, and track for the William of Orange. In softball, Schwisow is a 2-time All-Trailblazer Conference first team selection as well as an All-State Class B second team member. Throughout her high school seasons, Schwisow has maintained a batting average of .439 while tallying 86 RBIs and 25 home runs. Following her senior season with the Orange, Schwisow was named to the OWH Second Team Class-B All-State team. Riley is the daughter of Roy and Rebecca, and plans to major in Media Studies while at USF.

"Riley's defensive presence makes her an absolute force on the dirt – bringing a vacuum-like set of skills on the left side of the infield. She is a phenomenal teammate who has stepped into different roles on her teams, something that will make her a valuable asset on the diamond. As a human being, Riley is as good as they come. She will make each of us better people and we are so excited she is a Cougar."

-Coach Pivovar on Riley Schwisow