2025 Senior Spotlight: Charlie Pryor, Woodbine
Woodbine graduate Charlie Pryor talks about her past season and reflects upon her career in a Tigers’ uniform.
1) You grew up playing a softball / Why, how did this sport develop into your favorite sport
This sport slowly became my favorite as it provided me the best opportunity to make it to the next level, build relationships, and compete in every aspect of the game. When starting to play travel ball, I realized how much I loved playing competitive softball.
2) Your pitching Coaches / Talk about what they have meant to you to reach this point of your career ( You can include Club Coaches )
My pitching coach, Jon Turnquist, has been working with my since my little league years. He has helped me to spin the ball great while still adding speed over the years. My Echoes coaches, Brad Madsen and Brandon Brink, have shaped me into the player I am today. They pushed me to be great and I am so grateful for that. My high school coach, Greg Kolpin, was always there for extra reps and was always supporting me.
3) When you entered high school play for your first game (8th grade), you remember the emotions (nerves, excitement)
I remember being excited and ready for the season to start. Starting off with a win really set the tone for the rest of that season!
4) Is there any game (past 5 years) stands out / provides best memory / Where have you seen your biggest improvement:
Some of my favorite games to play in my career was a win against Logan-Magnolia (2021) my eighth grade year in the regionals, the regional semifinal game against Glidden-Ralston (2025) to get our 100th win as a senior class and a win on home field, and the final game against Newell-Fonda competing every step of the way.
5) How much do you think you have grown as a player (from 8th grade to Senior Year):
I have grown so much on the mental side of the game. Learning how to deal with failure and come back when you make a mistake is crucial in softball. I really focused on growing my game there and the physical part came with hard work in the weightroom and many extra reps.
6) Your favorite place to be a) Batters Box with winning runs in scoring position; or b) Pitching Circle, opponents have runners in scoring position, and you have the ball / Why
I would like to be in the batters box with this position because I wouldn’t want to allow any runners on base in crucial situations ;). I like to give myself a chance to get run support for our defense and myself in the circle.
7) Your Favorite place – You like the Batters Box or Pitching Circle more / Why
The batters box and the pitching circle both pose different pros and cons. In the box, I like to be aggressive and attack pitches that I can drive into gaps early in the count. As the count progresses, it becomes more of a mental game with yourself to stay locked in and put the ball in play with whatever the pitcher gives you. In the circle, I like to mix speeds and eye levels to keep hitters off balance. Getting weak contact or strikeouts is my goal to keep it easy on the defense!
8) School Records / What are you most proud of / which one did you want the most / what was it having your mom be your biggest fan
Stepping out into the varsity softball world in eighth grade, I didn’t plan on breaking any records. I just wanted to win and compete in our losses. I would say that we did a great job of that over the past 5 years as a team. If I had to choose, I would choose the strikeout record. I have spent a lot of time trying to become the best pitcher I can be and seeing the hard work payoff is very rewarding.
My mom has been there for me through it all. I appreciate the long days she has spent at the field supporting me.
9) High School, Last 5 years – Your Most Memorable Moment / Why:
While there is no particular moment that stands out to me over my high school years, I will always remember the team bonding meals, bus/van rides to away games, and the hard things I have been through with my teammates by my side through it all.
10) What are you most looking forward to at College / What will be your Biggest adjustment (College Major, please)
College: University of Sioux Falls; Major: Media Studies, minor in business.
I am looking forward to becoming the best softball player I can be during my college career. I will be able to focus on one sport and become great at that sport. I look forward to meeting new people, making new friends and connections, and growing the game of softball!
Woodbine’s High School Coach Greg Kolpin’s reflections on getting to coach/mentor Charlie Pryor the past five years.
She has been a tone setter since the minute she walked into practice her 8th grade year. I still remember her first game like it was yesterday. We knew we were going to be good but no one else did. She came in and struck out 18 of the 21 batters and then did it again the following night as well. That put us and her on the map, and gave our group momentum to have the most successful season in decades, she never looked back.
She changed the vibe of the program and made others want to put more time and effort in because they knew we would be successful behind her. She has been a leader both vocally and by example and has set the tone for our success the last five years.
She has a very unique game that I don't think people appreciate enough. She is known for her pitching accolades but she is ELITE in all phases of the game. In the circle her unbelievable accuracy sets her apart. She spots all of her pitches in, out, up, and down and can change speeds at an elite level. Defensively she is unbelievable in the field. A little known fact is that she is possibly a better shortstop than pitcher and that is saying something.
Offensively she can do it all. She led off for us and hit for power, average, whatever we needed she produced. And to cap it off she is the best natural baserunner I have seen. She has a feel for the game that is unmatched with both the time she has put in and her natural IQ and demeanor on the field. Not sure there will ever be another like her in all phases. It was special to watch.
She has been a leader for us since she was in 8th grade. She started out leading by example and was the heartbeat of the team. She is unbelievably competitive yet calm in the circle and that gives everyone else around her confidence because they know she is always going to show up and perform. As she has grown throughout her career she has also turned into a vocal leader and coach on the field. It was awesome to see her bond with and mentor our young kids the past couple years. She has done and seen it all and provides a unique perspective that people gravitate to and that is invaluable as a coach to have someone like that that can explain a drill differently, or give a tip to help out a teammate in a game. She is the total package and is going to be insanely successful at whatever she does in life.
I think I am still in shock that her career is over. Like I said I can still remember her first game like it was yesterday. It's crazy how fast five years go. As I have reflected on both her and this classes career I could not be prouder of the player and person she has become. She is a culture changer like nobody I've seen. Her personality combined with her insatiable work ethic makes her unique in that fact. She is the most intrinsically motivated athlete I've been around, she put in all the time that was needed and more without ever being asked, she was always the one doing the asking and that was always so rewarding to us coaches and makes you as a leader want to put even more time in for them as well.
It has been an absolute joy getting to watch her and be a part of the journey with her these past 5 years. I don't think it will fully sink in until next May when I accidentally write in (#8 C Pryor) in the leadoff spot on the lineup card and have to erase my mistake. There are some great players coming up through Woodbine Softball but I'm not sure there will be another quite like her. It's been an honor getting to be a part of it all with her and I can't wait to see where she goes at the next level and beyond.
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By the Numbers: Woodbine’s Charlie Pryor
HS Softball, School Records, thru 2025
Single Season
Batting Average: .561
On Base Percentage: .659
Home Runs: 5
Runs: 44
Walks: 25
Career Records
Batting Average: .471
On-Base Pct.: .583
Home Runs: 17
RBIs: 111
Pitching Wins: 89
Strikeouts: 1,137
Stolen Bases: 169
Runs Allowed: 189
Walks Allowed: 85
*Leader of the only Senior Class to reach 100 career wins in Woodbine Softball*
2025 SENIOR YEAR
Hitting
Batting Avg.: .532.
RBIs: 25.
Hits: 33.
2b: 6.
3b: 4.
HR: 5.
Stolen Bases: 41.
Pitching
Record: 18-4
ERA: 1.31.
Innings Pitched: 123.0
Walks: 17.
Strikeouts: 203.
