Abby Zawadzki from St. Charles North made a pivotal choice to bet on herself and work tirelessly toward her goals. On June 30, she signed with coach Kirin Kumar at Ohio State, reuniting with former teammate and West Aurora alum, Sara Tarr.
Initially committed to Ole Miss, Zawadzki reopened her recruitment in September. This decision came after the NCAA imposed a roster limit of 25 softball players, affecting her original plans. Her commitment to Ole Miss, made in 2024, was impacted as her offer was retracted due to the new limits.
Despite the setback, Zawadzki received solid support. This included Lauren McNulty, the coach who had previously guided her and Tarr with the Dennison Silver Hawks. McNulty’s connections played a crucial role in getting Zawadzki noticed.
Zawadzki’s desire to stay closer to home aligned with Ohio State’s interests, especially under Kumar’s leadership. Kumar, having transitioned from Miami of Ohio, showed faith in Zawadzki’s potential. Notably, Tarr, who initially committed to Miami, followed Kumar to Ohio State, and played successfully as a freshman.
In her senior year at St. Charles North, Zawadzki excelled, recording a 12-0 record with a 2.07 ERA and a batting average of .420. Her performance earned her the title of 2026 Beacon-News/Courier-News Softball Player of the Year and a place in the all-state first team.
Zawadzki expressed enthusiasm about her college future, indicating a willingness to both pitch and hit. Coach Kumar has shown a similar openness to allowing her to contribute offensively if she performs well.
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