CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – The Duhawks were tabbed to finish sixth in the American Rivers Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll, as released by the league office Tuesday. Coe College grabbed the top spot in the poll for the second straight season, earning eight first-place votes and 64 voting points overall.

WOJ WEIGHS IN
Aidan Wojciehowski returns for his eighth year as an assistant coach/associate head coach. Under his direction the Purple and Gold have amassed 139 wins, and his pitching staffs have recorded program bests for strikeouts (330), and shutouts (7) in a single season.

Regarding the A-R-C gauntlet ahead, Wojciehowski stated: "The upcoming A-R-C season should be one of the most competitive top-to-bottom in recent memory. We are really excited about the work our guys have been putting in, and we are eager to get the games going!"

A QUICK LOOK BACK
2025 saw Loras take a step back from its recent success, finishing with an overall record of 19-21, 9-15 (A-R-C). It marked the first time the Duhawks finished with a losing record since the shortened 2020 season and first time they missed the conference tournament since 2017.

Despite that, the Purple and Gold return several key veterans to lead their bounce-back effort. All-conference selections Vince Polizzi, Jackson Cullen, and Cody Sunny reprise their roles, with Cullen and Polizzi taking headlines as the returning first-team honorees.

Polizzi, a senior from Naperville, Ill., broke out in 2025, slashing .336/.434/.650 and finishing second in school history for home runs in a season (11). Cullen continued to grow as a hitter, with career bests for hits (47), doubles (11), and RBI (30) and Sunny maintained his signature style at the plate, with a team best .458 on-base percentage and 14 doubles.

Loras also maintained much of its depth, including seniors Alex Sandoval, Jack Carney, and Dylan Ackermann, along with juniors Daniel Giusto, Colin Kissane and Adam Williamson.

Carney, who returns to action after missing 2025 with an Achilles injury, said, "It's safe to say, as a team, we could not be more excited for this year. With so many upperclassmen, so much experience, and plenty of young talent, I am expecting big things out of this group. I will do everything I can to help this team have as much success as possible all year long."

ALMOST HERE
The season's first pitch takes place Feb. 20 in Topeka, Kan., where they will take on Macalester College for the first time in program history, followed by a three-game series in Greenville, Ill. a week later.

After a scrimmage with the University of Iowa on March 3, Loras heads to Florida for the RussMatt Central Florida Invitational, where they will play six games in six days. Upon their return from the Sunshine State, they will go to Rock Island, Ill. to face off with the Augustana College Vikings, and then to Pella, Iowa to open conference play against Central College.

The first bit of action at Petrakis Park is set for March 31 against Luther College, which is followed by Senior Day on April 2 versus Dominican University.