Cougars set to take the field: NICC Baseball gears up for upcoming season
“We have a group of guys who love to compete and do what is necessary to improve their game,” Coach Klostermann said.
By Kaleigh Tull, NICC work-study student
As the Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) baseball team prepares to open its first season in program history, excitement is building around a team ready to compete in the Iowa Community College Athletic Conference (ICCAC). A productive fall laid the groundwork for growth and clear expectations heading into the spring season.
Head Coach Conner Klostermann revealed that his team is driven by competition and commitment to improve.
"We have a group of guys who love to compete and do what is necessary to improve their game," Coach Klostermann said. "They go above and beyond what is expected."
That competitive mindset, paired with a strong belief in team chemistry, is something players think will be a critical factor in the spring.
"Coming into the season, good team chemistry will heavily rely on trust," Cougars sophomore pitcher Caleb Schusted said. "As a pitcher, knowing that my teammates have my back is a big factor in the game. I can throw strikes and know my field is there to back me up and get outs to win the game."
The team made noticeable gains in both physical development and on-field performance. Coach Klostermann included that the team has averaged 10-pounds of muscle gain per player.
Those improvements translated directly to performance, as hitters saw an average jump of five miles per hour (MPH) in exit velocity and pitchers increased their velocity by four MPH. Klostermann dedicates this improvement to the great work of assistant coaches Jakob Kirman and Daulton Vanderloo.
Despite the improvements, the focus will remain on the fundamentals.
"We have a lot of ability but need to continue to focus on the things that win baseball games," Klostermann said. "Timely hitting, competing on the mound and making routine plays defensively will define a lot of our games this season."
NICC will be tested early with a challenging non-conference schedule. The Cougars face-off against three programs that were in the top 25 or receiving votes at the end of the 2025 season.
The early test is designed to prepare the team for conference play, which Klostermann added is arguably one of the toughest conferences and regions in the country.
Leadership will be a strength this year. Michael Kleinhans Jr. has served as a key leader from the very start, and transfer student-athletes Kael Meyers and Schusted have also played important roles in setting expectations and helping the younger players understand the college game.
On the mound, the pitching staff expects young NICC pitchers to play a major role.
"Jack has a physical frame with some life on his fastball and does a nice job locating his offspeed for strikes," Schusted said when talking about freshman Jack Fenwick. "He fills up the zone and gives us a chance every time he takes the mound."
Other Cougar freshmen Darin Severs, Tyson Starkey, Ryan Turner and redshirt-freshman Meyers provide additional depth on the mound.
Joining Kleinhans as position players who stood out are power-hitter Damin Churchman, Rylan Kingrey, Nico Olszewski, Trey Weber and Ben Lindberg.
NICC Baseball opens its home schedule on Friday, March 13, hosting Western Technical College at 1:00 pm in Farley Park.
"We are very excited to play at home in front of great crowds," Klostermann said. "We will put a product on the field that our fans can be excited about. Get out to Farley Park this spring to see what NICC baseball is all about."
Stay up to date with NICC Athletics at niccathletics.com.