DES MOINES, Iowa – The Drake University softball team has signed five high school student-athletes for the 2022 season, including three Iowans, head coach Rich Calvert announced Monday, Nov. 16. Joining Drake for the 2022 season will be Paige Bedsworth (Fulton, Mo.), Carey Koenig (Iowa City, Iowa), Jayme Scheck (Palo, Iowa), Morgan Semm (Dannebrog, Neb.) and Heidi Wheeler (Waukee, Iowa).
 
"We feel the most important aspect in the recruiting process is finding quality student-athletes that represent Drake softball both on-and-off the field," Calvert said. "Time will tell the impact they will have on the softball field, but they all come from programs, whether high school or club, that have achieved tremendous success during their time. We look forward to seeing them develop over their careers."
 
Bedsworth, a pitcher and utility player, helped Fr. Tolton Catholic High School win the 2020 Missouri Class 2A state championship. She has had a decorated high school career that included breaking the Missouri state record for career strikeouts in the circle with 1,131, being named the AAA Conference Player of the Year twice and earning all-state honors three times. Bedsworth is a member of the Missouri SoCal club.
Bedsworth
 

Koening is a two-sport athlete in basketball and softball for Iowa City High School. She is a catcher and utility player for the Little Hawks. As a junior, Koening led the state in home runs with 12, helping her earn Des Moines Register Elite First Team, first-team all-state and all-conference honors. She is a member of the Eastern Iowa Barracudas club.
Koening
 

Scheck, a pitcher, helped Cedar Rapids Kennedy High School capture the 2020 Iowa Class 5A state championship. She has been on the school's varsity team since eighth grade. Scheck has earned first-team all-state, all-metro and all-conference honors each of the past three seasons. She is a member of the Iowa Premier Fastpitch club.
Scheck


Semm is a multi-sport athlete in basketball and softball for Centura Public School in Cairo, Neb. She is a four-time all-state, all-region and all-conference honoree on the softball diamond. Semm ended her career as Centura's all-time leader in batting average (.590), home runs (27) and stolen bases (73). As a junior, Semm garnered honorable mention all-state accolades on the basketball court. She is a member of the Nebraska Gold club.
Semm
 

The final member of the 2021 class is Wheeler, a utility player for Waukee High School. She was a high school teammate of Drake sophomore Delaney Taylor. Wheeler is a speedster who broke Waukee's single-season record for stolen bases with 40 her sophomore season and has swiped 81 in her career. She has earned back-to-back all-conference honors. Wheeler is a member of the Iowa Premier Fastpitch club.
Wheeler