Waukon softball team plays to 8-20 record in 2024 under first-year head coach
The 2024 Waukon softball season played out to an 8-20 overall record in the inaugural year for new head coach Dustin Rounds. That season mark included a 2-13 result in Northeast Iowa Conference (NEIC) play that placed the Lady Indians in sixth place in the final NEIC standings before having their season ended in the opening round of Class 3A Regional Tournament play with a loss at the home of fellow NEIC squad New Hampton.
Along with the charges on the field learning a new system of preparation and play under their new head coach, this first season for Coach Rounds at the helm of the program also proved to be a learning experience for him as well. “As a coach, I was very surprised about how much of an emotional and physical grind the season was,” he shared. “I have new appreciation for all high school level coaches after this season. Hats off to Melissa Ward for being the only coach in 2022. I had an assistant this year and was spent. I learned a lot and still have a long ways to go, but I realize you need a community of supporters to make a program successful.”
Even though wins and losses are often looked at to determine a season’s success, Coach Rounds says he learned that the success of a program gets its foundation from far beyond just plays made on the field and what the scoreboard ultimately reads. “If we really want softball to be successful, we need girls playing competitive softball early and have a good framework for youth coaches to follow,” the first-year head coach noted. “We have done so well in our football system, and I believe we can implement their development system to softball. Softball is a great sport. It’s fast-paced, exciting and an outdoor summer sport. What’s not to love?”
In his first season, Coach Rounds tried to foster that early love for the game of softball by recognizing players from younger local softball teams on varsity game nights at home. He sees that foundational building block as being one of the greatest successes of his first season at the Lady Tribe diamond helm.
“Getting the local youth involved in games and having them be present around the bench and culture of softball,” Coach Rounds stated as his choice of this season’s greatest accomplishment. “We need the players of future seasons to learn to love the game and want to play softball. We had a great group of upperclassmen for them to watch and learn from.”
For more complete coverage, pick up this week's print edition or subscribe to our e-edition by clicking here.
