2026 PUMA Classic: Friday Preview
September 9, 2026
On Friday and Saturday, Sept. 11 and 12, the JUCO Wire staff is headed to Westfield, Ind., home of the state-of-the-art Grand Park complex that will, once again, host the annual Puma Classic. This event features 30 teams with many need-to-know prospects who are capable of contributing at the next level – be it a four-year opportunity or pro ball.
Today, we’re going to spend some time breaking down the talent set to play this weekend.
You can find more information about the event by following this link. We assembled the following information with help from these participating head coaches, who shared details on their team’s 2026-27 outlook.
SCHEDULE
DMACC
Head Coach: Nic Mishler
2026 Record: 33-25
2026 Postseason Run: Finished third in the conference tournament
Top Returning Players:
+ SO. INF Drew Owen: .424/.500/.709, 20 2B, 4 3B, 10 HR, 63 RBIs
+ SO. INF/RHP Drake Obermueller: .388/.502/.644, 18 2B, 1 3B, 7 HR, 45 RBI
+ SO. 1B/OF Maverick DeVeau: .333 BA, 10 XBH, 84 AB
+ SO. LHP/OF Grayson Kirsch: 33 IP, 44 AB, 4 HR
+ SO. LHP Izzaq Zrust: 44 IP, 4-0, 52 SO
+ SO. RHP Hunter Cook
Top Incoming Prospects:
+ R-SO. RHP Sam Kemmer: transfer from Sac State
+ FR. C Noah Davis
+ FR. C Logan Roff
+ FR. SS Dawson Eveans
+ FR. LHP Kal Chamberlain
+ FR. RHP Elijah Zolman
Harper
Head Coach: Dominic Milano
2026 Record: 31-22
2026 Postseason Run: Lost in the Region 4 tournament
Top Returning Players:
+ SO. INF Cooper Nelson: .298/.390/.494, 10 2B, 4 3B, 5 HR, 35 RBIs
+ SO. C Collin Roche: .432/.538/.780, 13 2B, 2 3B, 8 HR, 36 RBIs
+ SO. INF Aidan Nohava: .318/.406/.573, 16 2B, 8 HR, 57 RBIs
+ SO. 1B Griffin Kelly: .287/.388/.417, 5 2B, 3 HR, 22 RBIs
+ R-SO. UTL Jack Wade
+ SO. OF Lewis Barbour
+ SO. LHP Riley Blackwell: 61.2 IP, 78 SO, 30 BB, 3.79 ERA
+ SO. RHP Gavin O’Neil: 38.1 IP, 48 SO
+ SO. RHP Kenny Nanos:
Top Incoming Prospects:
+ FR. INF/OF Chase Nelson:
+ FR. OF Aiden Nelson:
+ FR. OF Declan Gallicho
+ FR. INF/RHP Will Grabba
+ FR. RHP Shaylen Patel
+ FR. RHP Robert Miller
+ FR. RHP Vince Yario
Heartland
Head Coach: Chris Razo
2026 Record: 43-16
2026 Postseason Run: Lost in the Central District Championship
Top Returning Players:
+ SO. INF TJ Jakubowski: .391 AVG, 1.084 OPS, 24 2B, 6 HR, 58 RBIs
+ SO. OF Chase Peterson: .364 AVG, 1.131 OPS, 18 2B, 10 HR, 56 RBIs
+ SO. RHP Kasey Griffin: 31 IP, 28 SO
+ SO. RHP Tyler Dowling: 25 IP, 24 SO
Top Incoming Prospects:
+ FR. OF Sammy Atkinson
+ FR. RHP Ryan Lamp
+ FR. RHP Chase Milburn
+ FR. LHP Zach Toma
+ FR. C Zach Ohlund
+ FR. LHP Bryce Mischler
+ FR. OF Kaiden Romens
Iowa Central
Head Coach: Eric Stein
2026 Record: 53-12
2026 Postseason Run: Lost in the NJCAA DII World Series Semifinal
Top Returning Players:
+ SO. OF Tate Perrin: .391/.529/.770, 12 2B, 21 HR, 82 RBIs
+ SO. INF Parker Studtmann: .377/.517/.617, 10 2B, 10 HR, 58 RBIs
+ SO. OF Will Specht: .313/.505/.627, 11 2B, 10 HR, 49 RBIs
+ SO. INF Wyatt Myers: .392/.550/.741, 10 2B, 12 HR, 60 RBIs
+ SO. RHP Ethan Biggar: 38.2 IP, 54 SO
+ SO. LHP Chase Reeder: 30.1 IP, 33 SO
+ SO. OF/LHP Drew Fitzpatrick
+ SO. RHP Jacob Chandler
Top Incoming Prospects:
+ FR. OF/RHP Wyatt Kosidowski
+ FR. RHP/SS Brody Geislinger
Jefferson (MO)
Head Coach: Zac Bone
2026 Record: 38-16
2026 Postseason Run: Lost in the first round of the Region playoffs
Top Returning Players:
+ SO. C Andrew Sands: .300 BA, 20 HR, 65 RBIs
+ SO. CF Brady Vessells: .312 BA, 18 HR, 66 RBIs, 13 SB
+ SO. 2B Anden Hyde: .333 BA, 12 HR, 31 RBIs
+ SO. RHP Jack Moore
Top Incoming Prospects:
+ SO. LHP Mason Lee: transfer from Bradley
+ R-FR. RHP Jack Moore: transfer from Long Island University
+ R-FR. RHP Gabe Sieve: transfer from Missouri Southern State University
+ SO. INF Reece Harbison: transfer from Wabash Valley CC
+ So. INF Caleb Clealand: transfer from Snead State CC
+ FR. OF Kaden Dingers
+ FR. Austin Jones
+ FR. LHP Grant Mehrhoff
John A. Logan
Head Coach: Kyle Suprenant
2026 Record: 46-13
2026 Postseason Run: Lost in the Region XXIV Championship game
Top Returning Players:
+ SO. OF Hayden Bernreuter: .354 AVG, 16 2B, 15 HR, 70 RBI, 41 BB
+ SO. 1B Davis Collie: 10 HR, 10 2B, 40 RBO, 30 BB
+ SO. RHP Parker Poole: 19 IP, 18 SO, 7 BB
+ SO. RHP Trent Kulig: 33.2 IP, 36 SO, 11 BB
Top Incoming Prospects:
+ SO. OF Peyton Dickens: transfer from the University of Houston
+ SO. OF Kamden McAlpin: transfer from Eastern Kentucky University
+ SO. LHP Austin Vargas: transfer from Nichols State University
+ FR. INF Kendrick Dunning
+ FR. INF Trent Gill
+ FR. INF Logan DeClue
+ FR. OF Jerrius Atkinson
+ FR. RHP CJ Lake
+ FR. RHP Logan Hickman
Kankakee
Head Coach: Bryce Shafer
2026 Record: 36-21
2026 Postseason Run: Finished third in the Region 4 tournament
Top Returning Players:
+ SO. UTL/RHP Lucas Rink: .370 AVG, 4 HR, 47 RBIs. 16 2B / 2.29 ERA, 5-2
+ SO. INF Gabe McHugh: .370 AVG, 15 2B, 49 RBIs
+ SO. RHP Dom Panozzo: 3.18 ERA, 28.1 IP
Top Incoming Prospects:
+ SO. LHP Richard Shaw: transfer from Panola CC
+ SO. OF Ike Gray: transfer from Jackson State
+ FR. OF Landon Ehman
+ FR. C Riley Matlock
Kellogg
Head Coach: Eric Laskovy
2026 Record: 49-8
2026 Postseason Run: Lost in the NJCAA DII World Series
Top Returning Players:
+ SO. C Cayden Nieto: .369/.456/.590, 12 2B, 5 HR, 37 RBIs
+ SO. INF/RHP Justin St. Antonie: .301 AVG, 3 HR, 26 RBIs, 93 AB, 23 IP
+ SO. INF Eduardo “Lalo” Aguirre
+ SO. OF Ryan Yankowich
+ SO. LHP Luke Soper: 24.1 IP, 17 SO
+ SO. RHP Jaden Oliver: 12.1 IP, 15 SO
Top Incoming Prospects:
+ FR. C Aden Bailey
+ FR. RHP Riley Bendle
+ FR. OF Pierce Ginzer
+ FR. RHP Brady Henman
+ FR. LHP Anthony Larkins
+ FR. RHP Emmett Lingeman
+ FR. OF Gray Stockwell
+ FR. LHP Coleton Vanderploeg
Kirkwood
Head Coach: Todd Rima
2026 Record: 45-10
2026 Postseason Run: Lost in the Region 11 Tournment
Top Returning Players:
+ 1B Jax Theeler: .388/.524/.750, 13 HR, 15 2B, 61 RBIs
+ INF Will Nuss: .304/.430/.557, 6 2B, 7 HR, 26 RBIs
+ C Landon Jasper
+ OF Cam Templeton
+ RHP Kyle Smith: 39.2 IP, 43 SO
+ RHP Tate Proskovec: 27.2 IP, 34 SO
+ RHP Collin Homan: 26.1 IP, 34 SO
Top Incoming Prospects:
+ FR. OF Brandon Bea
+ FR. OF Ty Donels
+ FR. INF Anthony Harrington
+ FR. LHP Jonah Ludens
+ FR. LHP Ryan Oelke
+ FR. RHP Matthew Grundtner
Lake Land
Head Coach: Gabe Black
2026 Record: 39-18
2026 Postseason Run: Lost in the Region 24 championship
Top Returning Players:
+ SO. INF Logan Nagle: .363/.481/.615, 13 2B, 11 HR, 63 RBIs
+ R-SO. INF/OF Isaac Flowers: .335/.471/.568, 16 2B, 6 HR, 46 RBIs
+ SO. UTL/RHP Madden Johnson: .392/.513/.568, 15 2B, 53 RBIs, 31.1 IP
+ SO. RHP Matt Murphy: 39.2 IP, 41 SO, 19 BB
+ SO. RHP Martin Villagomez: 23.1 IP, 27 SO
Top Incoming Prospects:
+ FR. RHP Lucas Dunn
+ FR. RHP Max Flack
+ FR. RHP Gavin Fuscone
+ FR. INF Kyle Ziebell
Lansing CC
Head Coach: Steven Cutter
2026 Record: 35-24
2026 Postseason Run: Lost in Round One of the Region 12 tournament
Top Returning Players:
+ SO. INF JT Youngblood: .424/.524/.576, 72 H, 5 HR, 42 RBIs, 16 SB
+ SO. INF/OF Griffin DeVooght: .367/.484/.602, 36 H, 4 HR, 35 RBIs
+ SO. INF Dewey Modaff: .313/.430/.507, 21 H, 7 XBH, 23 RBIs
+ SO. INF/OF Jake Norton: .333/.426/.467, 30 H, 10 XBH, 16 SB
+ SO. LHP Gavin Przybyla: 49.1 IP, 54 SO, 1.35 WHIP
+ SO. RHP Josh Gardner: 45.1 IP, 39 SO, 1.38 WHIP
+ SO. RHP Trey Nurenberg
+ SO. RHP Dean Rice
Top Incoming Prospects:
+ R-FR. OF Reed Hayes: transfer from UIndy
+ SO. OF London Prashad: transfer from Coastal Alabama
+ FR. INF Hawk Harding
+ FR. RHP Bridger Olnhausen
+ FR. RHP Ryan Myers
+ FR. LHP Chase Tobias
+ FR. INF/OF Jack Bland
Mineral Area CC (MO)
Head Coach: Blake Jones
2026 Record: 41-20
2026 Postseason Run: Finished second in the region tournament
Top Returning Players:
+ SO. 3B Carson Shee: .344 AVG, 15 HR, 72 RBIs
+ SO. OF Peyton Knight: .327/.488/.730, 13 2B, 17 HR, 49 RBI
+ SO. 1B Julian Clemson
+ SO. SS Tanner Fujino
+ SO. RHP Aidan Hartholt: 9-1, 89 SO, 15 BB
+ R-SO. RHP Eli Woodall: 16 IP, 18 SO
Top Incoming Prospects:
+ SO. OF Cole Adair: transfer from Missouri Southern State
+ SO. INF Jackson Vaughn: transfer from Omaha
+ R-FR. OF Logan Both: transfer from Johnson County
+ FR. INF Mason Springs
+ FR. RHP Braydon Davidson
+ FR. RHP Gavin Campbell
+ FR. LHP/LHH Bryce Fullen
Parkland
Head Coach: Zack Pych
2026 Record: 41-20
2026 Postseason Run: Lost at the NJCAA National Tournament
Top Returning Players:
+ R-SO. OF Matt Knapczyk: .369 AVG, 6 2B, 3 HR, 49 RBIs
+ SO. UTL Cal Hanson: .368 AVG, 9 2B, 4 HR, 25 RBIs
+ SO. OF Ryan Dabe
+ SO. RHP Joseph Fry: 35.1 IP, 40 SO
+ SO. RHP Chase Wells: 24.1 IP, 29 SO
Top Incoming Prospects:
+ FR. 1B Rhett Harris
+ FR. LHP Will Bemrich
+ FR. RHP Lucas Calderin
+ FR. LHP Mason Mcallister
+ FR. RHP Matthew Rogers
South Suburban
Head Coach: Steve Ruzich
2026 Record: 42-16
2026 Postseason Run: Lost in the District tournment
Top Returning Players:
+ SO. C Enrique Villanueva: .358 AVG, 12 2B, 3 HR, 47 RBIs
+ SO. INF Jamie Mercer: .299 AVG, 7 2B, 3 HR, 40 RBIs
+ SO. C Angelo Barton: .412/.512/.551, 13 2B, 2 HR, 32 RBIs
+ SO. RHP Matthew Gaspar: 69 IP, 69 SO, 10 BB
+ SO. LHP Lachlan Litman: 55.2 IP, 63 SO, 19 BB
+ SO. RHP Ahston Janowski: 30.2 IP, 17 SO, 4 BB
Top Incoming Prospects:
+ FR. RHP Mason Van Dyke
+ FR. RHP Jacob Siska
+ FR. INF Jack Bonino
Southeastern CC (IA)
Head Coach: Justin Schulte
2026 Record: 45-15
2026 Postseason Run: ICCAC regular-season champs, lost in Region 11 Championship
Top Returning Players:
+ SO. INF Kam Francois: .415/.538/.571, 13 2B, 5 3B, 4 HR, 63 RBIs
+ SO. RHP Kyler Kaczmarski: 8-1, 77 SO, 63 IP, .219 OPP BA
+ SO. RHP Isaac Flamino: 8-0, 72 SO, 60 IP
+ SO. INF Gavin Awbrey: .364/.526/.718, 17 2B, 19 HR, 75 RBIs
+ SO. RHP Sean Sanderson: 3-1, 1 SV, 32 SO, 24 IP, .213 OPP BA
+ SO. INF Jake Miller: .340 AVG, 20 2B, 5 HR, 41 RBIs
Top Incoming Prospects:
+ SO. RHP Bo Collingwood: transfer from Blinn Community College
+ FR. CF Colby Gast
+ FR. C Pablo Avila
+ FR. RHP Brayden Kottschade
+ FR. RHP Lincoln Berding
+ FR. LHP Alex Williams
+ FR. 1B Nolan Dittmer
Southwestern Illinois
Head Coach: Dave Garcia
2026 Record: 43-18
2026 Postseason Run: Lost in the Midwest District tournament
Top Returning Players:
+ SO. OF Carter Bleakney: .357/.396/.622, 13 2B, 14 HR, 62 RBI
+ SO. OF Filippo Baratta: .370/.484/.543, 18 2B, 3 3B, 4 HR
+ SO. RHP Brock Fearday: 56 IP, 51 SO
+ SO. LHP Chase Knebel: 50.2 IP, 49 SO
Top Incoming Prospects:
+ FR. RHP Braeden Barber
+ FR. INF/RHP Layten Gerdes
+ FR. LHP Cannon Madej
+ FR. LHP Cale Schaumburg
Triton
Head Coach: Ernest Radcliffe
2026 Record: 20-25-1
2026 Postseason Run: Lost in Region 4 tournament
Top Returning Players:
+ SO. INF Eric Fleetwood: .489/.597/.885, 16 2B, 13 HR, 55 RBIs
+ SO. INF Tyler Trapp: .371/.471/.660, 13 2B, 3 3B, 9 HR, 45 RBIs
+ SO. OF Mason Jarrett: .370 AVG, 9 2B, 4 3B, 5 HR, 42 RBIs
+ SO. RHP Edward Lopez: 28.1 IP, 18 SO
Top Incoming Prospects:
+ FR. INF Javoris Bohannon
+ FR. OF Logan Fernandez
+ FR. RHP Ben Sommerfeldt
Wabash Valley
Head Coach: Aaron Biddle
2026 Record: 44-22
2026 Postseason Run: Region 24 Tournament Champions, Midwest District Tournament Champions, 8th place at JUCO World Series
Top Returning Players:
+ SO. 1B/OF Brady Schallmoser: .400, 17 2B, 17 HR, 77 RBIs, 13 SB
+ SO. C/INF Cameron Dube: .372, 5 2B, 2 3B, 6 HR, 28 RBIs
+ SO. OF Leandro Hernandez: .421, 17 2B, 1 3B, 9 HR, 52 RBsI, 8 SB
+ SO. OF Andrew Dixon: .390, 15 2B, 3 3B, 3 HR, 42 RBI, 4 SB
+ SO. INF Dean Staudacher: .417, 1 2B, 5 HR, 13 RBI, 3 SB
Top Incoming Prospects:
+ SO. RHP Eli Baker: transfer from Radford
+ R-FR. RHP Lucas Hail: transfer from Kentucky
+ SO. 1B Josh Ferguson: transfer from Marshall
+ FR. OF Maxime Blain
+ FR. INF Ben Veletean
+ FR. RHP Jayden Adorno
+ FR. RHP Beau Chaney
+ FR. RHP Grant Benefield