File photo by Ari Selvey New Ulm's Lauren Schmiesing slides into second safely during a Big South Conference softball game against Belle Plaine on April 14 at New Ulm High School.

NEW ULM – After starring on the New Ulm Eagles softball team, senior shortstop Lauren Schmiesing is taking her talents to Southwest Minnesota State University for next season.

“I’ve always wanted to go somewhere for college [for softball] ever since I was little,” Schmiesing said. “Probably since I was like seven years old. I decided I wanted to go play somewhere, that’s always been my dream ever since I was a little kid. SMSU has always been on my radar for colleges, so when I got the offer it just felt like the perfect fit.

“I’ve been there for different camps, volleyball camps we go down there and spend the night, and I’ve been there for games and camps for softball and stuff, and it just felt like the right fit for me, especially with it being really close to home. That also played a role in going there. I wanted to play at that next level, so it felt like that was a good fit for me.”

Last season, Schmiesing was an All-Journal First Team selection, putting up a .437 batting average with 12 doubles, a home run, 21 RBIs and 10 stolen bases. Schmiesing earned an All-Conference honor as well and is having another strong season in her fourth year starting for the Eagles.

Schmiesing, who will be studying elementary education, said that SMSU being close to home was a big reason for her deciding to become a Mustang.

“I also feel like they have a really good family atmosphere going on, and that was a huge thing for me,” she said. “Just like how for our high school team we have a huge family at the high school and the whole New Ulm program, SMSU had the same idea. Being a family, really pushing each other and giving each other more reps or challenging each other to really push and accelerate at that next level, as well as being a team, backing up each other, preparing for not only softball but also life and college. I felt like the girls there were really supportive along with the coaches there. The coaches are super nice, very supportive and want you to do well and want you to succeed. They’re going to push you in every way that they can so you can get those goals.”

Schmiesing will join 2025 New Ulm High School graduate Ramsey Hopp on the team, and Schmiesing is excited to reunite with her former teammate.

“It was great that Ramsey’s also going there,” she said. “Another added benefit to going there is getting to play four more years with her and getting to spend more time with her, because I did play with her all throughout high school and in the summer as well. Getting to play more with her is great.”

Bethel University was also a contender for Schmiesing, but SMSU’s offer proved to be too tempting to turn down.

“I decided to not go there just with getting an offer from SMSU with it being my dream school and also with it being farther away from home,” Schmiesing said. “There were a couple of things not aligning, and that was OK. I ultimately decided to go to SMSU in the end.”

Schmiesing said she was willing to fill any role that the Mustangs had for her early in her career.

“We haven’t talked too much about a plan or vision or stuff like that, but I hope to get there and just do whatever they want me to do,” Schmiesing said. “Really be a diverse player and take on any role they need me to to help the team out in any way I can. Really just working hard at any position they need me at, if they need me at the plate, just working on anything like that just to help the team out in the end.”

In her first year, Schmiesing hopes to adapt to the new college environment and fill in where she is needed, then hopes to become more and more of a core piece of the team as time goes by.

“For my first year there, just getting used to the atmosphere and how things work there,” she said. “Stepping in when I need to and playing a role there. And then by the end, becoming a bigger part of that team and really utilizing my skills and helping the team out. Whether they need people in the infield or even the outfield, kind of wherever they want to help out the team and put in the extra time and work in the end to hopefully reach an end goal with them.”