Missouri Valley’s Krista (Unger) Wood plates 2026 Hall of Fame Honor
July 24, 2026 – Rogers Sports Complex, Fort Dodge
Missouri Valley’s Krista (Unger) Wood (1999 Missouri Valley graduate) was inducted into the 2026 Iowa Girls High School Softball Hall of Fame on July 24 at Rogers Sports Complex during the 2026 State Softball Championships in Fort Dodge.
Wood, in her fourth year as the current Creighton University (Omaha, Neb.) softball coach, currently lives in Omaha, Neb, with her husband Alex, have two sons, Braxton and Myles.
"I was truly honored and humbled to receive the call this past spring informing me that I would be inducted into the Iowa High School Girls Athletics Hall of Fame. This is a very prestigious honor, not only for me but also for the Missouri Valley School District and the Community," Wood stated. "I am proud to represent my high school on the state tournament stage and grateful for the opportunities, support, and experiences that helped shape my future softball career and journey. Being inducted into the IGHSAU Hall of Fame is a recognition that I will always cherish. Go Big Reds! "
Below is what was read over the loud speaker at the 2026 State Championships.
KRISTA UNGER — Missouri Valley
The next honoree becomes the First Hall of Fame inductee to hail from Missouri Valley.
She was an all-state selection four times. In her first two seasons, she was dangerous enough with a bat in her hand — hitting above .259 with doubles and RBIs each year. But it was in the pitching circle where she truly excelled.
As a sophomore, she went 22-8 with a 2.34 ERA and 344 strikeouts. As a junior, she improved to 28-7 with a 1.07 ERA and 232 strikeouts, earning first-team Class 2A all-state honors. And then, in her senior season, she put together one of the most dominant individual years in Iowa softball history — a 26-10 record with a 0.64 ERA, 377 strikeouts in 251 and two-thirds innings, a .417 batting average, three home runs, and 38 RBIs. First-team all-state again. Her career record: 96 wins, 34 losses, and 1,105 strikeouts in 847 innings.
She took her arm to the University of Nebraska-Omaha, where she became the most decorated pitcher in school history. She holds the UNO record for career wins — 106 — and career appearances, starts, complete games, and innings pitched. She also holds the single-season records for victories, shutouts, ERA, and opponents' batting average. In 2001, as a sophomore, she pitched her Maverick team to the NCAA Division II national championship, throwing a two-hit shutout in the title game. She was a three-time all-North Central Conference selection and an all-region honoree.
But even that was only the beginning of her story. She transitioned to coaching, and the results have been equally impressive. In eight seasons at Wayne State, she compiled a 270-154 record, set the school's all-time coaching victories record, and led the team to three NCAA Division II tournament appearances.
In eight seasons at South Dakota State, she went 238-164 with two NCAA tournament appearances and was named Summit League Coach of the Year three times — the most decorated coach in Jackrabbit history.
Today, she is in her fourth season leading the program at Creighton University. She and her husband Alex have two sons, Braxton and Miles.
Please welcome to the IGHSAU Softball Hall of Fame, from Missouri Valley High School... Krista Unger.
