Quartet of Cyclone softball players earn all-Big 12 honors

IRVING, Texas — The 2026 season was a landmark year for Iowa State softball, as the program tied a school record with four individual All-Big 12 honors. The team’s historic performance was bolstered by a record-breaking .975 fielding percentage, the best mark in school history, which led the conference.

These individual accolades reflect a balance of veteran excellence and consistent growth across the roster, marking the second consecutive year that four Cyclones have been recognized by the league.

Tatum Johnson earned All-Big 12 First Team honors during her senior season after previously being named to the Second Team in 2025. She was a dominant offensive force, leading the team in triples (2) and RBI (51) while ranking second in runs, hits, doubles, and home runs. During conference play, she was particularly effective, slashing .385/.462/.795 and recording 18 extra-base hits. Johnson is the second Cyclone in as many years to receive First Team recognition, joining 2025 honoree Jessie Clemons.

Reagan Bartholomew concluded her career with the Cyclones by earning her first Big 12 honor as a member of the All-Big 12 Second Team. After returning from an injury in 2025, she produced one of the most statistically significant seasons in program history, leading the team in batting average (.415), hits (71), home runs (15), and on-base percentage (.502). Her 32 walks set a new single-season school record, and she became only the ninth player in school history to surpass 70 hits in a season.

Karlee Ford was named to the All-Big 12 Second Team, marking her second consecutive year receiving postseason conference honors after making the All-Freshman Team the prior year. Transitioning into a full-time starting role as a sophomore, she ranked second on the team with 49 RBI and fourth in hits with 59. In addition to her offensive contributions, which included a .333 average in Big 12 play, she was a reliable presence behind the plate with a .983 fielding percentage.

Sydney Malott made history as the first Cyclone since 2015 to be named to the Big 12 All-Defensive Team. Serving as the team’s first baseman, Malott recorded the highest fielding percentage on the squad at .997, committing only a single error in 390 total chances. Her defensive consistency was a key factor in Iowa State leading the conference with a .975 fielding percentage, the best mark in program history.