Addy Rotz’s journey continues at Northern Iowa

After leaving her mark as one of the most accomplished players in Mt. Zion softball history, Addy Rotz is preparing for the next step in her athletic career.

The 2026 Mt. Zion graduate concluded a remarkable career by becoming the Braves’ all-time hits leader, finishing with more than 200 career hits. This fall, she will continue her softball journey at the University of Northern Iowa.

As she transitions to the collegiate level, Rotz said she has benefited from the wealth of high-level softball talent throughout Central Illinois. Having fellow players navigate the recruiting process alongside her provided valuable support during what she described as a demanding experience.

She stated it really helped whenever other people are going through the same stuff as you. Rotz added the older girls that she played with made it easy to talk to them about their experiences, and it just felt nice to know that she was not alone in this process because it is such a challenging process.

Rotz said balancing recruiting, campus visits and the decision-making process was overwhelming at times.

She won’t be the only Central Illinois standout wearing the Panther uniform for long. Glenwood twins Sydney and Sofia Feld have both committed to Northern Iowa and are expected to join the program following their graduation in 2027.

Rotz hopes the strong tradition of Central Illinois softball talent will continue to make an impact at the collegiate level as she begins her career with the Panthers.