Lakota's Gangwer Signs With Owens Softball, Adds Versatility To 2015 Recruiting Class

Posted: Jul 23, 2015

By Nicholas Huenefeld/Owens Sports Information

Toledo, Ohio---Morgan Gangwer, a utility player from Lakota High School, has signed with the Owens Community College softball program.

The Risingsun, Ohio native earned First Team and Honorable Mention All-Midland Athletic League (MAL) honors, and she was a First Team and Second Team All-District honoree during her time with the Raiders.

"Morgan is going to bring us depth in multiple positons," said Owens Community College head softball coach Marcus Smith. "She adds another big stick to the lineup, and she's a great student in the classroom."

The 5'6" Gangwer helped lead Lakota to a berth in the regional finals as a junior and a senior, and she drove in the lone two runs her team produced in the game as a senior. As a sophomore, she hit .456 with 22 runs, 28 RBI and eight doubles, while producing 15 wins in the circle.

Academically, Gangwer was a member of the National Honor Society.

Overall, Gangwer is the 14th student-athlete to join next year's freshmen class. She joins Kailey Minarchick (RHP, Columbia Station/Columbia Station, Ohio), Megan Gregory (RHP, Rittman/Rittman, Ohio), Miranda Benschoter (RHP/OF, Elmwood/Bloomdale, Ohio), Taylor Donaldson (RHP, Manton/Manton, Mich.), Jamie Miller (RHP/IF, Clay/Oregon, Ohio), Ashley Guthrie (IF, Milan/Versailles, Ind.), Michayla Barga (IF, Bradford/Bradford, Ohio), Olivia Myers (IF, Elmwood/Bloomdale, Ohio), Brittany Brauer (Util., Manton/Manton, Mich.), Angelique Prunty (C, Elyria/Elyria, Ohio), Jessi Ducat (C, Evergreen/Lyons, Ohio), Sabina Watson (OF, Bradford/Starke, Fla.) and Lindsey Wiggins (IF, Bradford/Brooker, Fla.).

Notes

The Owens softball team finished with a 32-18 overall record last year. Along the way, the team captured Ohio Community College Athletic Conference (OCCAC) and Region XII District I championships. The team's season finished in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division II National Tournament, where they finished in the top 12 in the nation. The team captured the program's 500th win earlier in the season, as well.

Following the season, the Owens softball coaching staff won the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) East Region Coaching Staff of the Year award. Sophomore Tori Weidinger (Whitmer/Toledo, Ohio) became the program's first NFCA All-American, and freshman outfielder Jacey Gray(Springfield/Holland, Ohio) was named the OCCAC Player of the Year and a National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division II Third Team All-American.

Academically, the team had 10 of its 18 players earn their way on to the OCCAC All-Academic team, while Lexi Williams (Home School/Swanton, Ohio),Haley Kreger (Bedford/Temperance, Mich.) and Lesley Ducat (Evergreen/Lyons, Ohio) all earned NJCAA Academic Honors, and the team posted a 3.37 team GPA in the spring semester.