GREENVILLE — A large and enthusiastic crowd gathered Wednesday afternoon at Greenville High School to send off the 2026 Greenville Lady Wave softball team as it departed for Akron to compete in the OHSAA Division III State Fastpitch Softball Tournament.
The sendoff reflected the excitement surrounding a program that has captured the attention of the entire community during a remarkable season.
“It’s awesome,” said Greenville head coach Jerrod Newland as he looked over the crowd. “The last three days have been great ever since we won on Friday night. Just excited for the kids, the community, and that’s what it’s all about. You think about Greenville Softball, this is what ices the cake.”
Newland said one of the most rewarding parts of the team’s postseason run has been seeing generations of Lady Wave softball players come together in support of the program.
“So excited, all these people and families, and for me, the other night was to see all the alumni come back and experience it,” Newland said. “When they say the ‘we’ and the ‘us’ that just makes me so proud because it’s not just this year’s group, team 49, the 2026 team, but it’s everybody. As I look around here and see kids from the past – it’s kids from the past, present, and future, and it’s the name on the front.”
The Lady Wave held its final practice in Greenville before departing for Akron.
“Today, as we had our last practice in Greenville this morning, it’s just fun,” said Newland. “Usually you don’t get that closure and to know today was our last practice here, go up tomorrow, work out and get ready to play Friday – can’t wait – and the name on the front, and it’s Greenville Softball. I’m so excited for the kids.”
The 2026 coaching staff includes three former Lady Wave standouts who all went on to become four-year Division I college players: Justine Shilt, Ally Russell Bowers, and Morgan Gilbert.
“Those three coaches, I’m so proud of them,” Newland said. “When Ally and Gilby got their medals the other day, because they lost in the regional finals, so they get that chance to go is awesome, but to get that chance to go as a coach, as to what they put in. I saw both their parents get a little emotional, and that makes me really emotional. Proud of it, love it, and love where we’re going. Great staff. Today we’re all together, and that’s the last time, and we love each other. We have another 72 hours together, and we play ball in 44 hours. Just so proud of it.”
As his team prepares for the biggest weekend of the season, Newland reminded his players that they have already accomplished something special.
“I told them this morning, we are already winners no matter what happens in the next two games,” said Newland. “It’s been an amazing season, amazing journey with this group. I have had many teams go up there. This is the fifth one, and you only talk about certain groups, and it’s nothing against anybody, but when you win that last one or you lineup to play for it, it’s a feeling of closure, and I hope this group has it, and I’m excited for our opportunities.”
Greenville High School Principal Stan Hughes was among those attending the sendoff and praised the team for its dedication and accomplishments.
“One of the things that is so important to understand, look around at all these people here to support these kids and show that we recognize how hard they work and everything they do to get to a point that’s that productive in our school building,” Hughes said. “It comes as no surprise to me that there are this many people here to show their support for how hard these girls work and how talented they are.”
Hughes believes the lessons learned through athletics will continue benefiting the players long after their softball careers end.
“It would be interesting to see where they go from here because the lessons they learn in sports, in general, are great lessons about teamwork and hard work and perseverance, and resilience, and all those things,” Hughes said. “When you are a part of a program that’s this successful, if you can take some of those things along with you, it is going to show a lot for kids and what they can do.”
As principal, Hughes said watching students mature over four years is one of the most rewarding aspects of his job.
“One of the favorite things I get to see as the Principal is four years’ worth of growth,” Hughes said. “They come in as 14-year-olds, and they leave as 18-year-olds. You see tremendous growth. Some of these kids come in perfect and great; they’re already on point all the time, and others you get to see change, mature, and grow into these young adults. It is one of the greatest things about this job, watching kids and growing those relationships with them, and giving them fist bumps in the hallways and saying hi every day.”
Greenville Athletic Director Aaron Shaffer said the focus now shifts to preparing for Friday’s state semifinal.
“It’s exciting,” Shaffer said. “We have to control our emotions a little today, we’re still almost 48 hours away from playing ball. Today is a day to get out, get a meal on the way, stop and stretch our legs a few times, get settled into a hotel, go see the stadium, watch a little bit of ball tomorrow, practice, and then get prepared for Friday. Obviously, an awesome day to be sending our kids, our coaches, and all of our families up to Akron for an exciting weekend.”
Greenville Mayor Jeff Whitaker also joined the sendoff festivities and praised the team’s impact on the community.
“This team has played so well all spring and has brought so many of our citizens to come out and watch,” Whitaker said. “Now they are coming out of the woodwork to come out and watch. For these girls to be going to Akron and playing in the state tournament is exciting. Look at all these people here, it’s exciting.”
Whitaker also commended the character the players displayed throughout their successful season.
“These kids are wonderful,” Whitaker added. “They’re dedicated, they have pure sportsmanship, nothing but class. These kids are a credit to the City of Greenville and their parents for supporting them through all this, and what a great coaching staff we have. What makes it great is that these girls always listen to them and do everything they are told, and they have succeeded in winning 31 straight games.”
Assistant coach Justine Shilt, a member of Greenville’s 2007 state championship team, said she is thrilled the current team will have the opportunity to experience the state tournament.
“It is very exciting, I am happy they get to experience this,” Shilt said. “They just have to play Lady Wave Softball. We just have to go out, compete, and make sure we continue to play Lady Wave Softball. We got this far for a reason, and we just have to stick together and continue to play Greenville softball. Our girls are getting along very well, and the chemistry is so amazing. To see them all come together not only on the field but also off the field, and that is a huge reason as well, is why we are having so much success. I want to be able to share something like that with these girls, so I am really itching for them to go get it, get it done.”
Shilt still vividly remembers Greenville’s state championship run nearly two decades ago.
“I remember the plays,” said Shilt. “My favorite was when Katie Beanblossom got hit by a pitch, our nine hitter and I had come up to bat and all I cared about was making sure back then was getting a bunt down fair just to move her over and scoring position, and I sure did and then Abbie Shell hit a double and knocked her in to win the game one to nothing, so important plays you always remember. How you start, obviously starting fast and good, is a big key to why momentum can carry well for us, and I feel like we do a good job of that.”
Veteran assistant coach Denny Regal is making his fourth trip to the state tournament with the Lady Wave and knows exactly what the players are about to experience.
“The best time of their life,” Regal said. “They’ll never forget this experience. I still cherish it, and I’m old. They will remember this for the rest of their life.”
Former Lady Wave players Erin Albright and Rachel Class, members of Greenville’s previous state tournament teams, attended the sendoff to show their support.
“It is something I still talk about today, and it’s been 14 and 16 years, so it is something that really sticks,” Albright said. “It wasn’t just the actual getting to play, it was the amount of community that came, the family members that came, friends that were at other sporting events that got out of their sporting events to come and see, and drove the four hours to get there but even beyond that it was the hotel room, getting to hang out with the girls and the buffet beforehand, getting to stop in Plain City.”
“There are a lot of good memories that go around,” Albright added. “Getting to have this experience, let alone the amount of preparation it takes to finally get to this. They have been practicing and preparing for years and years, and it’s that culmination for them that they finally get to go have this experience.”
Class echoed those sentiments while emphasizing the community support that makes Greenville special.
“I played with Erin in 2012 up in Akron,” said Class. “Lots of memories that stick with you forever. It’s great to be back supporting the girls on this journey. One big thing I can say is hometown pride.”
“We’re community here, and small town, it shows up everywhere you go, so we’re proud to be here and proud to support the girls.”
As the buses pulled away from Greenville High School amid cheers, signs, and well-wishes, one thing was clear: the Lady Wave are not traveling to Akron alone. They carry with them the support, pride, and tradition of an entire community as they pursue the program’s second state softball championship.
