​When push came to shove, Abby Zawadzki from St. Charles North did what she had to do. She trusted herself, kept grinding, and made the most of every opportunity. A familiar thread reappeared on the Aurora-Elgin-area softball scene, offering reassurance amid the pressure. “It was a little stressful,” Zawadzki recalled, “especially after the high school season ended and I didn’t know where I would be headed.” Now she knows her destination. On June 30, she committed to Ohio State, reuniting with Sara Tarr, a former summer teammate and West Aurora alum.
Zawadzki, the North Stars’ standout at pitcher and first base, reopened her recruitment last September after initially committing to Ole Miss of the SEC. This time she’ll be playing in the Big Ten. “I knew there wouldn’t be a lot going on on the recruiting front this spring because the college season is underway at the same time,” Zawadzki said. “When high school ended, I had to pick things up and get rolling. I had really good support.” That support included Lauren McNulty, who coached Zawadzki and Tarr with the 18U Dennison Silver Hawks the previous summer. “Lauren has a lot of contacts,” Zawadzki said. “She helped me a lot and is a big part of this.” She stressed the importance of staying active—attending camps, emailing coaches, and building her presence on social media.
Zawadzki initially wanted to stay closer to home, but there was more to her recruitment than geography. She felt good about Ole Miss and her earlier decision, but the NCAA’s roster-size limit for softball created a new set of dynamics. A hard cap of 25 players per team takes effect July 1, 2025, a change that reshaped many recruiting plans. Zawadzki had verbally committed to Ole Miss in 2024. “Before the change, the limit was 35 players,” she said. “There were 13 in my Ole Miss recruiting class, and five of us were pitchers. It was crazy.” When the Ole Miss coach informed her that her offer would be withdrawn as part of the roster adjustments, Zawadzki found herself at a crossroads.
Even with that setback, she found support in Kirin Kumar at Ohio State, whose program showed a notable interest. This spring marked Kumar’s second season guiding the Buckeyes after departing Miami (Ohio). Tarr, who had originally committed to Miami (Ohio), followed Kumar to Columbus and started 28 of 31 games this season as a freshman, contributing at shortstop and first base. Tarr batted .206 with three doubles, four home runs, and 14 RBIs for a Buckeyes squad that finished 26-27 and earned an NCAA Tournament berth after winning 45 games the previous year.
Ohio State’s recruiting approach has long found traction in the area, with Kumar also bringing in Yorkville’s Madi Reeves, who earned MAC Freshman of the Year honors at Miami of Ohio. Reeves spent a year with Kumar before transferring to Louisville. “I knew of Sara before,” Zawadzki said. “During my sophomore year, I became more familiar with her, and her presence helped me see what Ohio State could offer.” Ultimately, Zawadzki chose to join a program that provides both familiarity and opportunity in a conference-renowned setting, aligning with her aspirations as a versatile player who can contribute on the mound and in the field.