Abby Zawadzki’s Journey to Ohio State Softball

Abby Zawadzki, a standout player from St. Charles North, made strategic choices to advance her softball career. Her efforts paid off when she signed with Ohio State under coach Kirin Kumar on June 30. This move reunites her with Sara Tarr, a former summer teammate and West Aurora alum.

Zawadzki initially committed to Ole Miss but chose to reopen her recruiting after the NCAA set a roster limit of 25 players for softball. Originally, teams could have up to 35 players, which impacted Zawadzki’s position at Ole Miss. Her recruiting story shows the challenges athletes face with roster changes and commitments.

Especially after the high school season ended and not knowing where I would be going. When high school ended, I had to pick things up and get rolling. I had really good support.

Lauren McNulty, who coached Zawadzki and Tarr on the 18U Dennison Silver Hawks, played a crucial role. Her contacts and guidance helped Zawadzki navigate the recruiting process effectively. This included attending camps, emailing coaches, and leveraging social media.

Kumar, now at Ohio State, expressed strong interest in Zawadzki, encouraging her despite a previous commitment to Ole Miss. Zawadzki’s performance this past season demonstrates her skills and determination. She finished her senior year with a record of 12-0, a 2.07 ERA, and a .420 batting average, earning recognition as the 2026 Beacon-News/Courier-News Softball Player of the Year.

Kumar’s program has seen recruiting success in the area, including landing Yorkville’s Madi Reeves, who was recognized as the MAC Freshman of the Year. Reeves spent a year at Miami of Ohio before transferring to Louisville.

Zawadzki’s relationship with Tarr, her future teammate, adds another layer to her story. They stayed connected after the recruiting process, exchanging texts and meeting at a Silver Hawks game.

We traded texts and have talked and she came to our (Silver Hawks) game the day after I committed along with several other summer teammates from last year.

Looking ahead, Zawadzki is open to contributing both as a pitcher and a hitter at Ohio State. Her skills in both areas could be an asset to Kumar’s team.

She asked if I would want to hit and I said, ‘Yes!’ But what happens from there is depending on how I produce.

Her story highlights the perseverance required in sports recruiting. Betting on her willingness to adapt might lead to success at Ohio State.