Storm Lake softball fields five sibling pairs in historic family roster

Five pairs of siblings are on the same Storm Lake High School softball roster for the first time in school sports history, giving the Tornadoes a lineup that feels as much like a family reunion as a varsity season. Five of the seven varsity players have sisters on junior varsity, and the mix has become part of how Storm Lake, in Buena Vista County, has built one of its strongest teams in years.

The roster includes Cole and Emma Richardson, Zoe and Kamryn McCoy, Avery and Reagan DeHaan, Abby and Macy Bodholdt, and Olivia and Paisley Speers. Three of those family names already run deep in Storm Lake athletics: Megan and Matt Richardson, Jeff DeHaan and Pete Bodholdt all played for the school in earlier years. That history gives the 2026 team a familiar look around Storm Lake Community School District circles, where softball has long been tied to family names and neighborhood pride.

Coach Tony Statz, in his first year leading softball after previously coaching baseball, has embraced the unusual setup without letting it become the whole story. He has described the sibling dynamic as fun to watch and said the seniors have welcomed the younger players as they take on bigger responsibilities. Statz has also stressed that the roster is built on ability and work ethic, not novelty, which matters on a team that returned five starters from last year’s 25-7 season and has kept winning through June.

The family ties show up on the field and at home. Avery DeHaan said it is unique to share a team with a sibling and that it has made the group feel closer. Olivia Speers said the sibling presence has made team chemistry more fun and interesting, while Paisley Speers said the practical side has changed family logistics because parents no longer have to split between separate games. Abby Bodholdt said the team wears its jersey proudly but still knows how to have fun, and Avery DeHaan said her father often reminds her and her siblings to carry both names, the one on the front and the one on the back, with pride.

The roster’s bond has unfolded during a strong run for Storm Lake softball. Avery DeHaan opened Lakes Conference play on June 2 with a four-hit shutout and 12 strikeouts in a 2-0 win over Spirit Lake, while Cole Richardson drove in the first run with an RBI double. Storm Lake then beat Spencer 7-5 to clinch at least a share of the last-ever Lakes Conference softball title, before Spencer edged the Tornadoes 1-0 on June 25 to deny the outright championship. Storm Lake and Spencer both finished 7-1 in league play, and both schools are headed to the Siouxland Conference this fall, closing one league era as the Tornadoes continue to build on a 69-16 record over the past three seasons.