UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Penn State softball program saw multiple student-athletes pick up preseason recognition from Softball America on Monday, with junior utility Brooke Klosowicz headlining the group by earning the No. 92 individual player ranking in the nation per the organization’s release.
Klosowicz was joined by a quintet of student-athletes that landed Softball America B1G Freshman to Watch status in infielder Kirsten Finarelli, pitcher-infielder Gabby Gradishar, outfielder Breanna Hanik, infielder Kalli Karwowski and pitcher Brevyn Kellepouris. Klosowicz, a native of Johnsburg, Illinois, returned to Softball America’s rankings after peaking as the No. 6 utility/designated player in the nation according to that outlet last spring.
Klosowicz returns to action following a breakout 2025 campaign that saw her shatter multiple Penn State single-season program records while spearheading one of the most dominant defenses in program history. The third-year star logged the fourth-highest batting average in a single season in program history and sits atop the career leaderboard in the statistic with a .380 mark during her stint in Happy Valley. The 2025 campaign was highlighted by a single-season program-record 23-double campaign in addition to 13 home runs, the fourth-most in a single season in Happy Valley. Klosowicz also shattered PSU’s single-season RBI record in 2025, driving 53 runs in for the Nittany Lions in their record-setting offensive year.
PSU saw five members of its seven player rookie class garner Big Ten Freshmen to Watch status, with Finarelli, Gradishar, Hanik, Karwowski and Kellepouris achieving those accolades. The PSU freshman class in its entirety will look to play a prominent role in PSU’s results over the 2026 campaign, with the group featuring multiple individually-ranked athletes according to Extra Innings Softball. PSU’s rookie class hails from six different states and encompasses all major position groups, including two pitchers, one pitcher-infielder, two infielders, an infielder-catcher and one outfielder.
With Klosowicz and PSU’s quintet of preseason freshman honorees in tow, the Nittany Lions will kick off the 2026 campaign the weekend of Friday through Sunday, February 6 through 8, at the NFCA Division I Leadoff Classic. The Blue & White will challenge the Missouri Tigers, Boston College Eagles, Eastern Kentucky Colonels, BYU Cougars and Auburn Tigers from the Eddie C. Moore Complex in Clearwater, Florida, with first pitch less than 25 days away.
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The 2026 Penn State softball season is presented by Highmark.