YELLOWJACKET SOFTBALL STAFF MEET THE YELLOWJACKETS

HEAD COACH JAIMI STEJSKAL started as the head coach in the RCTC Softball Yellowjackets in the fall of 2021. A 1999 graduate of Macalester College, Coach Stejskal was a four-year starter playing center field and short stop while earning her B.A. in Psychology and Elementary Education. From 1999-2002, Coach Stejskal served as head assistant coach for her alma mater. From 2002-2006, Stejskal was the head softball coach for Viterbo University. After completing the 2006 season, Stejskal left coaching at the collegelevel and moved back to the Rochester area where she has been actively involved with youth fastpitch since 2006, serving on the Rochester Youth Fastpitch Softball Association board, coaching at Rochester area high schools and coaching for the Minnesota Stix softball program. She lives in Stewartville with her husband Mark. She is an advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion and serves on the NAMI of SE MN Board of Directors where she works to promote mental and emotional resiliency and eliminate the stigma of mental illness.

ASSISTANT COACH HANNAH NELSON joined the RCTC coaching staff in the fall of 2021. She is a graduate of Rochester Lourdes High School and the College of St. Benedict. Hannah has been coaching with Rochester Youth Fastpitch since 2017, served as a head coach with Minnesota Stix softball, and is an active member of the Rochester Youth Fastpitch Softball Association. During her time at the College of St. Benedict, Hannah was a catcher from 2013-2015. She started 21 games as a sophomore in 2014. During her time at Lourdes, Coach Nelson was the catcher for five seasons, serving as captain for two of those years. She was also a four-year hockey player for the Eagles.

ASSISTANT COACH MIKE MACKEN joined the RCTC coaching staff in the fall of 2021. He is a Rochester, MN native and attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison where he played third base and lettered four-years in the baseball program. After baseball, he played competitive softball where he won more than 20 Minnesota State Championships and six National Championships. He started coaching fastpitch in 2003 when his daughter, Gopher, Sam Macken started playing. He coached Sam throughout her Junior Olympics career, first in Rochester, then for the MN Stars (Eagan, MN). Currently, he is the Assistant Coach at Lourdes High School in Rochester, MN where he has been coaching since 2007 and is also an active member of the Rochester Youth Fastpitch Softball Association. He has been an advocate for softball players for more than 30 years.

CLAIRE PAUSCH is a freshman from Pelican Rapids, Minnesota where she was home schooled. Her family members are mom Amber, dad Jamie, and siblings Colten and his wife Abby, Cody, Cael, Caleigh and Carley. Her late grandpa is Gerald Wendt, and she is playing every game for him. Her favorite cartoon as a kid was “Baby Looney Toons.” “Napoleon Dynamite” is her current obsession. Anything with pasta is her go-to-after-game meal. Fun fact about Claire: she collects red air dancers, like the ones you see at car dealerships. When asked why RCTC she said, “I could live with my family while attending school and play softball.”

TARRIN STEPHANS is a sophomore from Eyota, Minnesota and graduated from Dover-Eyota High School. Her honors include receiving an all-academic award during the RCTC softball season last year. Her family members are twin brother Tyler, and parents Jennifer and Corey. Her favorite cartoon as a kid was “Dora the Explorer.” Tarrin’s current obsession is “The Divergent” movie series. Her favorite meal after a game is pasta. Fun fact about Tarrin: she was a three-sport athlete in high school! Why RCTC? “Because it is close to home, also they offered the program that I want to go into.”

TAYLOR DRAEGER is a freshman from Litchfield, Minnesota. This is where she graduated high school and was a part of National Honor Society, A-honor roll, and graduated with honors. Her athletic honors include three-time All Section, All Conference, All Conference Honorable Mention, two-time First Team All-Area and All State Honorable Mention. Her team honors include Conference Champions in 2019, Section runner up in 2021, and third place finish in Sections in 2022. Her family includes, dad Matt, mom Stef, and brothers Alex and Griffin. Her favorite cartoon as a kid was “SpongeBob Squarepants.” Her current obsession is “Vampire Diaries.” Her favorite after game meal is pizza or BBQ wings. Fun fact about Taylor is: “I played varsity tennis in high school. We went to state every year that I played and placed every time--second place twice, third place, and consolation.” When asked why RCTC she said, “Because of the great medical programs and opportunities that they have to offer.”

KELSEY GRUNEWALD is a returning sophomore. Her honors include Spotlight on Scholarship three times (high school), AllAcademic Team (2022), All-Conference, All-Conference Honorable Mention, Breakdown sports catalog 2020-2021 (high school), MCAC Elite Team, All-MCAC Team, South All-Division First Team (2022). Her family consists of mom Crystel, dad Ernest, sister Alivia, and brother Gavin. “Scooby-Doo” was her favorite cartoon as a kid. She is currently obsessed with any Colleen Hoover book. Mexican food and pasta are her favorite after game meals. A fun fact about Kelsey

Mia (My-a) Hiber is that in high school she played three sports--softball, volleyball, and basketball! Why RCTC? “The reason I chose RCTC was because of the medical programs they offer, and my grandpa lives in Rochester, so I am closer to him".

BAILEY JOHNSON is a freshman from Adams, Minnesota and graduated from Southland High School. Her family members are parents Anthony and Nichole Johnson, and siblings Marcus, Brooklyn, and Brianna Johnson. As a kid her favorite cartoon was “Dora the Explorer.” She is ALWAYS obsessed with “Grey's Anatomy!” Her favorite after game meal is Culver’s or Chick-Fil-A. Fun fact about Bailey: She used to look like Honey Boo Boo. Why RCTC? “The small school environment, and the team is all so welcoming and inviting.” Pssst…Bailey also played on the Yellowjackets Volleyball team this year!

GRACE BRAUNWARTH is a freshman from Norwood Young America, Minnesota and graduated from Waconia High School. Her team honors include her club team going to State and Nationals the last four years. Her family members are mom Christine, dad Daniel, sister Miranda, brother-in-law Matthew, and brothers Jonathan and Nolan. As a kid, her favorite cartoon was “definitely ‘Dora’” (she even had a Dora toddler bed!). Grace’s current obsession is any romance book, but she always obsessed with reality tv including “Keeping Up with the Kardashians” and “The Bachelor!” Her favorite after game meal is pizza or Qdoba, “bring on the carbs!” A couple fun facts about Grace is she loves spontaneous road trips, and loves going to Zach Bryan concerts with her boyfriend. When asked why RCTC she said, “The opportunities I would have, and the medical program.”

DJ BERG is a sophomore from St. Charles, Minnesota. She was on the B honor roll in high school. In 2021 her athletic honors were Clutch Player of the Year and long and weighed 35 pounds.” When asked why RCTC she said, “I can get my generals done, it is a short commute from my hometown, and they have my major, Law Enforcement, that can help me with my future career as a Fish and Game Warden.”

BELLA MEHRKENS is a returning sophomore hailing from Zumbro Falls, Minnesota and attended Pine Island HS. Her honors include three-time MCAC player of the week last year, and third in the conference last year. Her family members are Amber, Kyle, Weston, Aylla, and Braxton Mehrkens. “The Smurfs” were Bella’s favorite cartoon as a kid. Her current obsession is “Grey's Anatomy.” Her favorite after game meal is mashed potatoes or chicken. Fun fact about Bella: She has three kidneys! Why RCTC? “Many of my family members have graduated from RCTC.”

JADA JAMES is a freshman from St. Paul, Minnesota and graduated from Como Park High School. She was an All-Conference selection for basketball and volleyball along with an All-Section softball player. Jada has three brothers, Karter, Jalen, and Will and two sisters, Kayla and Laya along with parents Becky and Will. Her favorite after game meal is chicken. Her current obsession is baking! Fun fact about Jada: she played Yellowjacket basketball this year! Why RCTC? “It is close to home and offers great academic programs.”

MIA (MY-A) HIBER is a freshman from Owatonna, Minnesota. Her academic honors include 2019 Senior Student of the Month (January). Her athletic honors include 2016-2017 JV Offensive Softball MVP. Her team honors include Softball MVP. Mia’s favorite cartoon as a kid was "American Dragon". Her current obsession is realistic coloring. Her favorite after game meal is pizza. Fun fact about Mia? She can one hand clap AND she has never had a concussion! When asked why RCTC she said, “Close to home, affordable, right programs!”

ALEXA MILLER is a freshman from right here in Rochester, Minnesota. She graduated from Byron High School. Her family members are mom Lori Miller, dad Todd Miller, and brothers Matt Miller, Blake Andersen, and Chase Andersen. Her favorite cartoon as a kid was “The Fairly Odd Parents.” Her current obsession is reading books by Colleen Hoover. Subway or McDonalds chicken nuggets are Alexa’s go-to after-game meals. A fun fact about Alexa: she has never broken a bone! Why RCTC? She said, “closer to home and I am doing the two for two program.”

All-Conference

Honorable Mention. Team honors of 2021 were Three Rivers Conference West Division Champions, Sub-Section Champions, Sections Champions, and second place State Champions. Her family is her mom Angie, dad Dave, and brother Adam. DJ’s favorite cartoon as a kid was “Daffy Duck.” Her current obsession is catching fish and Netflix. Her favorite after game meal is one of the big C’s: Chick-Fil-A, Chipotle, or Culver's. Fun fact about DJ is: “I have a huge passion in fishing! My biggest fish I've caught was a Lake Sturgeon that was 55 inches

ISABELLE HAHN is a sophomore from Kasson, Minnesota. Her honors include receiving second team NJCAA All-Academic Honors and second team NJCAA All-Academic Honors. Her family members are Don, Jen, Sam, and Nick (boyfriend). Isabelle’s favorite thing to watch as a kid was “Land Before Time” with her brother. Her current obsession is watching “Yellowstone” and the show “1923.” Her favorite after game meal is a salad from Chick-Fil-A or a venison steak that her Dad makes for her. Fun fact about Isabelle is she loves going hunting or fishing. When asked why RCTC she said, “I chose RCTC because it was close to home, and I felt like RCTC would give me the opportunity to be successful in my future.”