Konyndyk Set for Collegiate Softball

Sophie Konyndyk watches a Red Arrow base runner during a game last spring.

Justin Scott - Sports Reporter

Lowell Senior Sophie Konyndyk will head to Indiana next fall for softball.

Sophie Konyndyk will be trading in red and white for royal blue and gold starting in the fall of 2025, as the LHS senior recently signed with Marian University-Ancilla for softball at a signing event in the LHS library. 

Marian Ancilla plays in the the Michigan Community College Athletic Association of the National Junior College Athletic Association. Marian Ancilla is located just across the Michigan border in Donaldson, Indiana.

“Marian is a two-year college, but it has all of the things that I like about a four-year school like dorms and a meal plan. I also really like Coach Gil Arzola, who has been a high school coach, a head coach at a four-year college, and a pitching coach at Valparaiso University. He is a great guy, and girls love to play for him. I also like the girls in the program. The girls were great when I took my visit and they made me feel welcome,” Konyndyk told the Ledger.

Sophie also participates in skiing alongside her twin brother Sam. She played for the Grand Rapids Flames 18U team for club softball this past summer where she played primarily shortstop and catcher. For the Red Arrows in 2023, she played mostly second base and outfield and wore the #3 jersey.

“I wanted to play at a community college because I didn't really know what I wanted to study in college. I plan on playing and finishing at a four-year school after I am done at Marian Ancilla,” Konyndyk added.

This upcoming season the Chargers’ softball program will play teams like Indiana Wesleyan, Glen Oaks Community College, Jackson College where LHS alumnus Kenzie North played, and Lansing and Kalamazoo Community College.

“I really liked the way Marian-Ancilla recruited me. They told me that they wanted me in their program and I would be a great fit, but they were willing to wait for me to make a decision when I was ready. Some aspects of recruiting were really stressful, especially with some schools that tried to pressure me to make a commitment. I had recruiting interest from schools all over the country. About a month before I made a commitment to Marian, I narrowed my list of schools to four programs. I took visits to all of them before making a decision,” Sophie added.

The university was founded in 1937 as a private catholic school. In 2021, the college which was known as Ancilla College merged with Marian in Indianapolis. For Konyndyk, she’s excited to help lead the Red Arrows as a senior with her college decision behind her.

“I started playing softball in early elementary school along with a lot of other sports. Eventually softball became my favorite sport. I started playing travel ball when I was 12, and began working hard outside of practice. As a senior, I am looking forward to playing with the people that I have grown playing with since I was little,” Konyndyk concluded.