GAYLORD ― The Gaylord softball program has built quite a name for itself over the past five seasons.
Winning back-to-back state championships in 2023 and 2024 made it clear across the state, but those around Northern Michigan had been well aware of the juggernaut the GHS team was becoming. The achievements they left behind tell the story: a 172-19 record over five seasons, the top two seasons in home runs hit by a team in MHSAA history (73 HR in 2023, 72 in 2024) and eight current players on college softball rosters.
Now, a relatively new group will fill attempt to fill those large shoes (or cleats) left behind, and while the coaching staff is not lowering the standard, the team understands that nothing will come easy just because of the name on the front of their jersey.
"I tell the girls that even though we're the Gaylord softball program, we're not the teams that have been here before," said senior Nora Bethuy. "We're going to have to work hard for every single thing we get."
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Dreams in Boyne City, Mich.26 / 29Photos, Gaylord vs. Boyne City softball at Waterfront Field of DreamsGaylord softball visited Boyne City on Friday, April 17 at the Waterfront Field of Dreams in Boyne City, Mich.27 / 29Photos, Gaylord vs. Boyne City softball at Waterfront Field of DreamsGaylord softball visited Boyne City on Friday, April 17 at the Waterfront Field of Dreams in Boyne City, Mich.28 / 29Photos, Gaylord vs. Boyne City softball at Waterfront Field of DreamsGaylord softball visited Boyne City on Friday, April 17 at the Waterfront Field of Dreams in Boyne City, Mich.29 / 29Gaylord softball dealing with changing roster, expectations in 2026Gaylord softball visited Boyne City on Friday, April 17 at the Waterfront Field of Dreams in Boyne City, Mich.Last season: 24-8, Advanced to Division 2 regional finals (lost 10-0 to Escanaba).
Key departures: Aubrey Jones, Kennedy Wangler, Jenna Sircely.
Key returners: Nora Bethuy, Makayala Kozlowski, Lily Ryckman-Hall.
With a player like Aubrey Jones on the roster, a state championship was always the ceiling for the GHS softball team.
There was certainly more that went into back-to-back state titles than one dominant player, but it was players like Jones, her sister Jayden, and other standouts like Alexis Shepherd, Alexis Kozlowski and others down the lineup that made Gaylord the most feared softball team in the state, regardless of division.
Slowly but surely, those key players have graduated and moved on. The roster now only features two players from the state-title-winning rosters and only one starter from either title game (senior Nora Bethuy).
That may change outside expectations, but it won't affect how the coaching staff views their team or the standard they hold them to.
"We're not lowering the bar for them," coach Bill Bethuy said. "The expectations are still here, and we're going to have to work hard to get there."
Seniors Nora Bethuy, Makayla Kozlowski and Lily Ryckman Hall will be key to GHS reaching its larger goals. They've seen the level of commitment it took to reach the mountaintop back in 2023 and 2024 and bring that college-level talent that people expect from the GHS lineup.
This year, a state title may be a bit far out of reach, but it'll be up to this group to prove the ceiling is still high for the Blue Devils' program.
Contact GHT Sports Editor Dylan Jespersen at Djespersen@gaylordheraldtimes.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @dylanjespersen, and Instagram, @dylanjespersen
This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: Gaylord high school softball 2026 season preview