Contributors

Kayla Lombardo is Prep Softball’s National Analyst. She played Division 1 softball at Fordham University, where she was a team captain and led the Rams to three Atlantic 10 Conference championships and NCAA Tournament appearances. She later went on to coach Division 1 softball at Lehigh University, where she earned her master’s degree. She also Kayla Lombardo is Prep Softball’s National Analyst. She played Division 1 softball at Fordham University, where she was a team captain and led the Rams to three Atlantic 10 Conference championships and NCAA Tournament appearances. She later went on to coach Division 1 softball at Lehigh University, where she earned her master’s degree. She also worked for Sports Illustrated and Baseball America before joining the team at Prep Network.

Caylan Arnold Elliott played Division I softball at the University of Tennessee and Florida State University from 2016-2021. After graduating, she began her professional softball career by playing overseas in Italy and the Netherlands. She also competed professionally during the shortened AUX season in 2022, and in 2023, began playing Caylan Arnold Elliott played Division I softball at the University of Tennessee and Florida State University from 2016-2021. After graduating, she began her professional softball career by playing overseas in Italy and the Netherlands. She also competed professionally during the shortened AUX season in 2022, and in 2023, began playing professionally for the Florida Vibe. Caylan started working as a TV analyst in 2022 in a wide range of sports for the ACC and SEC networks, including softball, baseball, basketball, and volleyball. She is also a pitching instructor in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Michaela Carter is a former Division 1 softball outfielder, originally from Washington state. She was a five-year starter at Fordham University, and graduated in 2023 with a bachelor's in Sociology and in 2024 with a master's in Media Management. She also helped Fordham capture the Atlantic 10 title in 2022 and competed in the NCAA Tournament. She Michaela Carter is a former Division 1 softball outfielder, originally from Washington state. She was a five-year starter at Fordham University, and graduated in 2023 with a bachelor's in Sociology and in 2024 with a master's in Media Management. She also helped Fordham capture the Atlantic 10 title in 2022 and competed in the NCAA Tournament. She continues to have a passion for softball and growing the game.

Emma Gaston is a travel and high school softball coach from Greenville, South Carolina. She was recently named the head coach at Liberty High School and also works for Michelin as a Data Analyst. After playing softball for 10 years, Emma finished her career at Salem College, a Division III institution in Winston-Salem, NC. When Covid-19 hit, she Emma Gaston is a travel and high school softball coach from Greenville, South Carolina. She was recently named the head coach at Liberty High School and also works for Michelin as a Data Analyst. After playing softball for 10 years, Emma finished her career at Salem College, a Division III institution in Winston-Salem, NC. When Covid-19 hit, she made the switch to coaching and hasn’t looked back since. She has a passion for spreading softball knowledge across all levels.

Anthony Alandt is a Syracuse University graduate eager to be in on the ground floor of Prep Softball. When he’s not seeking out the next wave of high school softball stars, you can usually find him watching Cleveland sports or finding unique trading cards.

Benjamin Rosenberg has been involved with softball since 2018, when he began covering it as a freshman at Northwestern University. Since then, he has covered the NCAA Tournament, the Olympics and the Athletes Unlimited professional league as a writer for Softball America. A 2021 graduate of Northwestern, Benjamin currently covers Mississippi State Benjamin Rosenberg has been involved with softball since 2018, when he began covering it as a freshman at Northwestern University. Since then, he has covered the NCAA Tournament, the Olympics and the Athletes Unlimited professional league as a writer for Softball America. A 2021 graduate of Northwestern, Benjamin currently covers Mississippi State athletics for The Commercial Dispatch, and previously covered high school and college sports in New Hampshire and Vermont.

Rhiannon Potkey is an award-winning journalist with 25 years of experience in the industry. She has covered college beats at the Ventura County Star, Salt Lake Tribune and Knoxville News-Sentinel. Rhiannon has been a senior writer at D1Softball.com since the site launched. Growing up in Southern California, Rhiannon was a four-sport athlete, Rhiannon Potkey is an award-winning journalist with 25 years of experience in the industry. She has covered college beats at the Ventura County Star, Salt Lake Tribune and Knoxville News-Sentinel. Rhiannon has been a senior writer at D1Softball.com since the site launched. Growing up in Southern California, Rhiannon was a four-sport athlete, including playing travel softball.

Ryan Henry is currently a professional softball player with the New York Rise. She is also a two-time Big East Conference champion with Villanova, where she ranks in the top five in program history in career home runs (third). She was a First-Team All-Big East selection and a Third-Team NFCA All-Region honoree during her time at Villanova. Ryan Ryan Henry is currently a professional softball player with the New York Rise. She is also a two-time Big East Conference champion with Villanova, where she ranks in the top five in program history in career home runs (third). She was a First-Team All-Big East selection and a Third-Team NFCA All-Region honoree during her time at Villanova. Ryan holds a bachelor's degree in Communication and a master's degree in Theater.

Owen Kaelble joined Prep Softball for its inception in October of 2024. Born and raised in Indianapolis, IN, Owen gained a strong fandom for softball during his undergrad days at the University of Indianapolis. After getting his degree in communication, Owen went to get his master's in sports journalism at Indiana University Indianapolis. While in Owen Kaelble joined Prep Softball for its inception in October of 2024. Born and raised in Indianapolis, IN, Owen gained a strong fandom for softball during his undergrad days at the University of Indianapolis. After getting his degree in communication, Owen went to get his master's in sports journalism at Indiana University Indianapolis. While in the program, Owen has covered the 2022 Final Four and the FIBA Women's World Cup in Australia. He brings a passion for all sports and looks forward to telling stories that haven't been told. Owen can be reached at owenkaelble@comcast.net

Dr. Megan Buning is a Certified Mental Performance Consultant (C.M.P.C.) with over a decade of experience training the mental game. Dr. Megan has trained athletes ranging from children to adult seniors competing within team and individual sports. Her clients compete across a variety of sports on competitive travel teams, collegiate teams, Dr. Megan Buning is a Certified Mental Performance Consultant (C.M.P.C.) with over a decade of experience training the mental game. Dr. Megan has trained athletes ranging from children to adult seniors competing within team and individual sports. Her clients compete across a variety of sports on competitive travel teams, collegiate teams, professional teams, and elite adult leagues. Dr. Megan has also provided mental performance training to over 500 travel and collegiate level umpires and game officials across a variety of sports. Following her collegiate and professional playing career, she coached Division I softball for seven years serving a pitching coach and associate head coach at Florida State, Coastal Carolina, and the University of Mississippi. In the last 10 years, she has worked as a research and teaching professor with her current position being a teaching faculty at Florida State University within the FSU COACH Interdisciplinary Center. Dr. Megan has presented her training and research numerous times nationally and internationally, and her research is published in both national and international academic journals. As a Division I All-American, USC Athletic Hall of Fame member (2013), and a member of the 2017 SEC Women's Legends Class, Dr. Megan has served as a talent analyst for the SEC+ and ACCx digital stations covering over 130 games for the University of South Carolina, Clemson, and Florida State softball since 2015.

Maggie Hendricks has covered sports for 16 years, working for the Olympics, Bally Sports, the Athletic, USA Today and Yahoo! Sports. Her work has been noted by Best American Sportswriting, APSE, and the Gracie Awards.