Trachsel Announces Six Additions on Signing Day

Minnesota Golden Gopher softball added six student-athletes to their 2020-21 roster, head coach Jamie Trachsel announced Wednesday.

"It is with great pride and a tremendous amount of excitement that we welcome our 2020 class and their families into our Gopher softball family," head coach Jamie Trachsel said. "All of these young women bring with them a tremendous amount of passion for the University of Minnesota and our softball program, the work ethic and desire to be great and the unselfishness to be part of something bigger than themselves. I have no doubt they will make immediate contributions to the on and off field success of our program as we challenge for excellence in the classroom and championships on the field."

Jenna Beckstrom | Middle Infielder | Lakeville, Minn. | Lakeville North High School

"I was born and raised loving the University of Minnesota," Beckstrom said. "The family culture, atmosphere and coaching staff here are unmatched anywhere else in the country. Ever since I was a little girl, Minnesota has been my home. Maroon and Gold runs in my blood. It has always been my dream to play for the Gophers and I couldn't feel anymore blessed or proud to have the opportunity to play for Coach Trachsel and Minnesota softball."

Beckstrom is a three-time All-Conference honoree and earned 2019 First-Team All-State honors. She has been a captain since her sophomore season and has led her team to a sectional championship and a 2018 state tournament appearance. She also spent time with the Minnesota Renegades and Midwest Speed club teams.

"Jenna is the kind of player you want to coach and have on your team," Trachsel said. "She has great discipline and work ethic and excels in every area of her life. Her dedication and love for softball and Minnesota softball will continue to be her foundation as she continues her development as a hitter and defensive player. She comes to our program as one of the best all-around players in her class from our home state of Minnesota. Her character, passion and pride are exactly what being a Minnesota Gopher is all about."

Clare Ceynowa | Utility | Brainerd, Minn. | Brainerd High School

"Minnesota has been my dream school ever since I was younger," Ceynowa said. "It is an amazing school close to home and has the best softball program in the Midwest. The first time I stepped on campus for a camp it felt like the right place for me. From that moment on I knew no other school would compare. I wanted to be a Gopher."

Ceynowa is the Brainerd High School career home run leader. She is a two-time All-Conference honoree and has led her team to back-to-back conference championships. She also competes for the Minnesota As club team. She led them with 58 RBIs in 2018 and 35 RBIs in 2019.

"Clare is a great addition to our program. She is a very solid and balanced player," Trachsel said. "Her maturity, humility and work ethic will not only make her a great teammate, but it will allow her to make big strides physically and mentally as a freshman. Her power and ability to play multiple positions will add to the depth and strength of our team. Clare's unselfishness, sacrifice and commitment to this program will make her as asset on and off the field. Her character, passion and pride are exactly what being a Gopher is about. She will be a great representative of the University of Minnesota as she excels on the field and in the classroom."

Rylie Costa | Utility | Tracy, Calif. | Kimball High School

"I chose the University of Minnesota because it is a school that I believe will help me achieve dream of playing in the Women's College World Series," Costa said. "It is a beautiful school with great academics and unbelievable sports teams. It was everything I was looking for in a college."

Costa has recorded over a .500 batting average in her past two high school softball seasons including a .595 in 2018. She is a three-time All-Conference honoree and has been named her Team MVP the past two years. She has also competed for the LTG Lions club team since 2013 and was named to the 2019 PGF Nationals 18U All-Tournament Team.

"Rylie is a very experienced and well-rounded player. Her balance and consistency on both sides of the ball make her very reliable and translates well to the next level," Trachsel said. "The combination of her confidence, composure and awareness will allow her to make big strides as a freshman and the contributions she can make to our success. Her excitement and pride for representing this program will be her backbone and driving force for her on and off field experience and success. We look forward to being part of her journey, growth and development as a student, as an athlete and as a person. There's no doubt she belongs in Maroon and Gold."

MacKenzie Denson | Outfielder | Mansfield, Texas | Lake Ridge High School

"I chose the University of Minnesota because of (head coach) Jamie Trachsel," Denson said. "(Coach Trachsel) was hands down the best coach I had ever talked to and I knew that I would want her to coach me one day to make me a better athlete."

Denson is also known as "Wheels" and recorded 52 stolen bases in the 2018-19 softball season. She also hit .542 on her way to being named Offensive Player of the Year in her conference. She competed for Texas Glory in club ball and was ranked among the top slappers by ExtraInnings Softball. She was also the No. 103 ranked Extra Elite recruit in the 2020 class according to ExtraInnings Softball.

"MacKenzie is a fiery personality and dynamic player," Trachsel said. "The combination of her athleticism, competitive mindset and determination will be her foundation as she challenges to contribute to the success of this program immediately. Her speed, range and strong arm will make her an asset in our outfield. Her confidence, knowledge of the game and great baserunning make her a versatile offensive player who will be poised to challenge for a position in the lineup from day one. We look forward to working with MacKenzie and being part of her journey and collegiate experience. There is no question she will excel on and off the field and represent Minnesota softball with the upmost respect."

Maddy Ehlke | First Base | Green Bay, Wis. | Bay Port High School

"I picked the University of Minnesota because the instant I stepped foot on campus, I knew it was the place I wanted to be," Ehlke said. "It reminded me a lot like home but at the same time, it was a whole new world. In the end, the University of Minnesota has a great athletic and softball program with a wonderful educational program that I just could not say no to."

Ehkle led her conference with a .606 batting average and earned 2019 Second Team All-State honors. She was named the 2019 FRCC Player of the Year and is a three-time All-Conference honoree. Ehlke also competes for Impact Sports Academy.

"Maddy is a great addition to our already well rounded 2020 class," Trachsel said. "She is a very good defender and a dangerous offensive player. She's a left handed hitter who can hit for average and power. She is very mature and has a sense of calm about her. Her work ethic, passion and drive to excel at whatever she chooses to pursue makes her a great addition to the standards and expectations of Minnesota Softball. Her composer, mentality, willingness to learn and ability to make changes quickly will serve her well as adjusts to the collegiate level. We look for her to be a contributor as she adds depth and power to an already explosive lineup. We are proud she will be wearing Maroon and Gold."

Sara Kinch | Catcher | Temecula, Calif. | Great Oak High School

"I love the family atmosphere at the University of Minnesota," Kinch said. "I have a lot of family that lives nearby. It was the right fit for me."

Kinch was a Southern Section League 6 First-Team selection playing for Great Oak High School and helped her team record a second place in the CIF-Southern division. She has also been competing with the Athletics Mercado club team since 2013. Kinch was recently featured by FloSoftball as one of the top-ranked catchers in the state of California and was named one of their rising stars for the entire 2020 recruiting class.

"Sara is the kind of person and player you want in your program," Trachsel said. "She is a great teammate and understands what it takes to train and perform at an elite level. Her background, maturity and composure will serve her well as she grows and develops throughout her career, and contributes to the success of our program. She is a lock down defender behind the plate and is a run producer on offense. She is someone who will excel on and off the field and represent the University of Minnesota and our softball program with class and respect."

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