DES MOINES, Iowa – Drake softball will look to replace a productive senior class with a trio of incoming freshmen in their class of 2023. The Bulldogs will welcome Allie Bishoff, Lydia Olejniczak, and Frankie Rita to Des Moines.
 
Bishoff comes to Drake from Roca, Neb. where she served as a utility player for the Titans of Norris High School. She filled roles in the outfield and behind the plate during her time at Norris where she earned four varsity letters and was a member of three Nebraska state qualifying teams. As a senior, Bishoff hit for a .451 average with three homers and 22 runs driven in.  Allie is the daughter of Jeremy and Sarah Bishoff and plans to study athletic training or exercise science with hopes of working as a collegiate athletic trainer in the future.
 
Olejniczak hails from nearby Perry, Iowa where she has been a star shortstop for the Jayettes of Perry High School. The five-time letter winner started her varsity career as an eighth grader and earned multiple All-Conference, All-District, and All-State awards including a First Team nod as a junior. She is the daughter of Jason and Tiffany Olejniczak. Lydia's father is a 1993 graduate of the University of Iowa where he was a member of both the football (1989-93) and baseball teams (1989-91). She also has a brother, Kaleb, and sister, Emma, who played collegiate softball at Iowa, UNI, and Murray State.
 
The Bulldogs' last newcomer in their 2023 class comes to Des Moines from Lemont, Ill. Frankie Rita has been served a utility role behind the plate and elsewhere at Lemont High School. Rita was also an All-Conference, All-Area, and All-State performer while serving as a team captain. She is the daughter of Sheldon and April Rita. Frankie hopes to study education at Drake and pursue a career in teaching after her collegiate career