NEW MADISON – Tri-Village senior Elizabeth Poling has signed to continue her softball career and education with the Ellsworth Community College Lady Panthers.
“Ellsworth was just a home away from home – it’s just like Greenville,” Poling said. “They are a tiny town, there are cornfields everywhere like here. They made me feel like I was a part of the team on day one.”
Tri-Village head softball coach Emily Osborn praised Poling’s dedication and growth in the pitching circle.
“It’s so exciting to see all their hard work pay off,” Osborn said. “She has worked hard for this. She has done things out of season on her own and works hard every time we put her on the mound. She’s worked physically and mentally because the pitching position is taxing in that regard, so it’s awesome to see all that hard work pay off.”
Poling, the daughter of Scott and Leah Poling, plans to earn her registered nurse (RN) license and associate degree at Ellsworth before transferring to a university closer to home to complete a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN).
“I went to a couple of practices, looked around a little more, and ultimately I came back, and they were the number one choice of mine,” Poling said. “They have a really amazing nursing program for me, and ultimately, I’m putting my future first too, so I chose the best nursing program for me.”
Ellsworth Community College, located in Iowa Falls, Iowa, competes in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) as a member of the Iowa Community College Athletic Conference (ICCAC).
“She leads from the mound and shows that she is putting in the work and expects others to do the same,” Osborn added. “I think she is going to work hard and be an asset to anywhere she goes, so I think they are getting a good player.”
Ellsworth assistant coach Shawn Stackhouse expects Poling to make an immediate impact.
“I think Liz brings a lot of things to the table in the circle,” Stackhouse said. “She’s going to be able to be a leader in our circle, probably be in the top two or three in our rotation.
“We play one of the toughest JUCO conferences in the nation, so she’s going to see some really good competition,” he continued. “Her off-speed, fastball, and curveball are going to work really well in our league, so she’s going to be able to do some successful things for our program, and we’re excited to have her.”
Poling hopes to contribute during her two years at Ellsworth before moving on to a four-year program to continue both her education and softball career.
“I plan to go to a four-year college to get my BSN and continue my softball career and see how far that takes me,” she said.
Poling has compiled an impressive record in the circle during her Tri-Village career. As a freshman, she posted a 12-7 mark with 99 strikeouts and a 3.281 ERA. She followed with a dominant sophomore season, going 21-0 with 121 strikeouts and a 1.876 ERA.
In 2025, Poling helped lead the Lady Patriots to a perfect 30-0 season and an OHSAA State Championship, finishing with a 20-0 record, 126 strikeouts, and a 1.791 ERA.
“They had a tremendous 2025 class,” Poling said. “Coach told me they’ll have an amazing 2026 class. We were talking about what my season might look like, and we’re trying to head for a title. They haven’t had one in quite some time, so they’ve been working really hard to build a team to get to that title.”
Poling expressed gratitude to those who supported her journey to the next level.
“I want to thank all of my coaches from the past years,” she said. “I want to thank my parents for all the time, effort, and money. I want to thank Shane and Emily the most. They have definitely seen me grow up and helped me become the ballplayer I am today.”
