MEQUON, Wis. – Jess Pozezinski closed her tremendous career with the Concordia Wisconsin softball program with another high honor on Tuesday morning. Pozezinski was voted to the 2025 CSC Softball Academic All-American Second Team, announced by the College Sports Communicators.
"Being a student-athlete at the D3 level is a different beast entirely," said Jess Pozezinski. "Balancing the commitments for your sport with all that your degree entails is one of the most challenging things student athletes face. Their love for their sport is just as important as their desire to earn a degree. As a nursing major, it was one of those degrees that many would hesitate to declare when they wanted to play a sport in college. It takes a different tank entirely to fuel your body, mind, and spirit to get through each day. To jump from early morning lifts to late night clinicals, or having to go straight from clinical to a game two hours away because you missed the bus going there, healthcare students have a schedule like no one else. It's our desire to help others that motivates us to get through some stressful and chaotic times. While these last four years were some of my toughest, being able to play while learning and preparing to become a registered nurse is something I'd choose to do over and over again. Looking back at all the hard work and dedication towards my career and degree, and now looking at this award and the 5 letters next to my name (BSN, RN), it gives me a sense of confidence and relief knowing that it all was going to be okay in the end. Hats off to all of my fellow teammates, nursing classmates, and student athletes. There are not enough awards or enough recognition to go around to show how hard everyone of you works. Always remember to be proud of yourself, no matter how small or how big the victory."
A senior shortstop from Lake Villa, Illinois, Jess Pozezinski claimed the title as one of the most feared players on the diamond and a 3.81 grade point average.
The sensational senior sparkled on the diamond once again in 2025. She finished her senior campaign with 58 hits, 49 runs, 18 doubles, 13 home runs, three triples, and 40 RBI. Pozezinski was walked on 23 occasions and stole four bases to go with her 0.430 batting average, 0.512 on-base percentage, and 0.896 slugging percentage.
Nationally, she ranked 12th in slugging percentage, 16th in doubles and home runs per game, 17th in home runs, and 29th in doubles per game and runs.
Pozezinski was recognized with a long list of accolades throughout her career. She was a two-time Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC) Position Player of the Year and earned four All-NACC selections. Nationally, she was named a National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-American in 2024 and received NFCA All-Region honors in three different seasons. In the classroom, she finished as a four-time NACC Scholar Athlete, a three-time CSC Academic All-District honoree, and was selected as a CSC Academic All-American in 2024.
In addition to Pozezinski, seven additional student-athletes are repeat selections on the Academic All-America Division III softball team – KaiLi Gross (Case Western Reserve University), Brynn Nelson and Kaili Saathoff (Linfield University), Alexis Michon (Trine University), Jen Kukn (Illinois Wesleyan), Mary Frances Eillis (East Texas Baptist University), and Mackenzie Bivin (MIT).
Her impact within the Concordia Wisconsin softball program is deeper than just the stat sheet. During her time on the shores of Lake Michigan, she helped play a key role in the success of the program and helped it soar to new heights. She was a part of three teams that claimed NACC regular season and tournament titles and claimed victories in the NCAA Division III Tournament, including an NCAA Regional title in 2023.
"We are so incredibly proud and happy for Jess," said head coach Megan Aliverti. "She has worked so hard on the field and in the classroom. She is incredibly deserving of this award, and she is an amazing example of what it means to be a student-athlete."
Pozezinski is the second Concordia Wisconsin softball player to be named a CSC Academic All-American. She joins Kelsey Bollon, who claimed the honor in 2021 and 2022. Bollon was a second-team selection in 2021 and a first-team selection in 2022.
She is in an elite company of one of 14 Falcons to claim Academic All-America honors from CSC joining Ricki Budewitz (women's tennis), Landon Sather (men's tennis), Jordan Johnson (men's basketball), Emily Hafemann (women's basketball), Evan Lischka (football) Justin Totsky (men's soccer), Andy Ellingham (men's volleyball), Kelsey Bollon (softball), Isabel Downs (women's soccer), Carmen Rowe (women's soccer), Brooke Braga (women's soccer) and Jordan Lafferty (women's soccer).
The 2025 Academic All-American Softball Team, selected by CSC, recognizes the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances on the field and in the classroom. The CSC Academic All-America® program separately recognizes softball honorees in four divisions — NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III and NAIA.
For a complete list of honorees, click here.
