GOCC softball players rack up awards
Lewis named Western Conference Coach of the Year
The Glen Oaks Community College softball program earned major recognition in the 2026 postseason awards announced by the MCCAA and NJCAA Region 12, highlighted by multiple individual honors, all-conference selections and coaching accolades.
Freshman standout Kourtney Zarycki headlined the awards for the Vikings after being named MCCAA Western Conference Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year. Zarycki was also selected to the Western Conference First Team, the Western Conference All-Freshman Team, the All-MCCAA Team, and the Region 12 All-Region Team.
Joining Zarycki on the All-MCCAA Team and Region 12 All-Region Team were fellow Vikings Hannah Brinks and Audrie Dugan. Brinks also earned Western Conference First Team and All-Freshman Team honors, while Dugan received First Team recognition in the conference awards.
Additional honors for the Vikings included:
- Kaidee Gonser — Western Conference Honorable Mention
- Maddy Lewis — Western Conference Second Team
- Grace Blanchard — Western Conference Second Team
Leading the award-winning season from the dugout was Eric Lewis, who was named Western Conference Coach of the Year after guiding Glen Oaks to one of its most successful seasons in recent program history.
The Vikings' strong presence throughout the postseason awards reflected the program's impact across the conference and region, with Glen Oaks players earning recognition in nearly every major category. Glen Oaks advanced to the NJCAA Division II Region 12 District A semifinals, falling to Mott, and finished the year with a 32-16 overall record.