Iola High School junior Zoie Hesse added one more accolade to an already decorated 2024-2025 athletic year after her selection to the Kansas High School Softball Coaches Association All-State Team.
Hesse made history earlier this year while joining freshman Addi Wacker as Iola’s first female state qualifiers in wrestling.
Hesse earned her first all-state selection in softball after serving as Iola’s ace on the mound and their strongest bat in the No. 3 spot.
Hesse wrapped up the regular season by breaking the school record for most home runs in a season and most career home runs. She ended the year with a .529 batting average, including a team-leading 46 hits, 13 doubles, a triple and 12 home runs. Her 49 home runs outpaced her nearest teammate by 19.
She also had a team-leading 18 walks, which increased as the season wore on and her power-hitting reputation spread amongst area coaches.
On the mound, Hesse was part of the Mustangs’ 1-2 punch alongside senior pitcher Elza Clift (7-3) as the pair racked up 19 wins. Hesse accounted for 12 of them after Coach Chris Weide made Hesse Iola’s sole pitcher heading into the postseason. She ended the year with 100 K’s, striking out nearly half of the batters she faced and ended the year with a 2.280 earned run average.
