Bowling Green State University Athletics
Photo by: Drake Harlett, BGSU Athletics
Gardner, Falcons Sign Seven
December 01, 2025 | Softball
Bowling Green State University softball coach Michelle Gardner has announced the signing of seven student-athletes. Lilly Atkinson (East Troy, Wis.), Maddie Franke (Curtice, Ohio), Brooklyn Kemp (Pittsburgh, Pa.), Mya Lewis (Martinsville, Ind.), Quinn Loar (Grove City, Ohio), Kadyn Sanchez (Oxnard, Calif.) and Drea Watts (Barboursville, W. Va.) will join the Falcon family for the 2026-27 academic year.
Atkinson, an outfielder, is a senior at East Troy H.S. She was a first-team all-conference selection for the Trojans last season, when she hit .548 with a 1.691 OPS. Atkinson has played travel ball for Wisconsin Lightning.
"Lilly is a very competitive, strong athlete," said Gardner. "She is a solid outfielder who has a very good arm and great range. Offensively, Lilly hits for average but has power potential as well. I have had the pleasure of watching Lilly grow over the past few years. She has worked very hard to get to the next level and I look forward to watching her continue to grow with us. We are excited to have Lilly on campus next fall!"
Franke is a senior at Clay H.S., and was named to the All-Ohio Second Team last season. The utility player also was selected to the All-Northwest District First Team as well as the All-Northern Lakes League Team. She plays travel ball for Ohio Stingrays.
"Maddie is a versatile player who can catch and play outfield," said Gardner. "Offensively, Maddie hits for average but has power potential as well as great speed. While watching her over the past year I've grown to appreciate all she brings to the table. She is fast and smart on the field and will help us in many areas. Her ceiling is very high and we are excited for her to be a Falcon!"
Kemp, a pitcher, is in her senior year at Upper St. Clair H.S. She has been named to the All-Section Team in each of her first three seasons. Kemp has played travel ball for Indiana Magic Gold.
"Brooklyn is a very competitive pitcher who will complement our pitching staff with a very good mix of speeds," said Gardner. "'BK,' as she is known by her teammates and coaches, has a very calm demeanor on the mound. Whether she is starting a game or going into a tough situation her presence on the mound never changes; she is out there to do her job. Her ability to keep hitters off balance while facing some of the best players in the country makes her a great addition to our program."
Lewis, an infielder, is a senior at Martinsville H.S. She has played travel ball with Diamond Dynamics.
"Mya is a very athletic player who has the potential to play anywhere in the infield for us," Gardner said. "She hits for average but also has some power potential. I've had the pleasure of watching Mya grow as a softball player from the age of 10 when she played with my daughter in Indiana. I knew she would be a great player when she grew older and I am very excited to have the opportunity to work with her now in college."
Loar, a catcher, is in her senior year at Grove City H.S. She has earned All-Ohio Capital Conference honors in each of the last two seasons, and also has garnered All-District First-Team accolades. She has played travel ball with Ohio Lasers Red.
"Quinn is a very strong athlete who will see time behind the plate but could also see time at first," said Gardner. "Offensively she has power and we are looking for her to have an immediate impact on our program. Quinn is tough behind the plate and works well with her pitchers. She competes every pitch to help her pitcher, and her ability to win pitches will benefit us greatly."
Sanchez, a pitcher, is a senior at Santa Clara H.S., and was named to the California All-State First Team by Cal-HiSports. She also was named to the All-CIF Southern Section First Team. Sanchez has played travel ball for Corona Angels.
"Kadyn is a strong pitcher who competes against the toughest competition week in and week out in Southern California," said Gardner. "She is a dynamic competitor who is committed to being the best she can be. Kadyn works just as hard in the weight room as she does on the mound, understanding what it takes to be successful at the next level. She brings a mix of speed and movement and is not afraid of any situation."
Watts, a pitcher, is a senior at Cabell Midland H.S.. She was named the West Virginia Gatorade Player of the Year in 2024-25, and was also named Mountain State Athletic Conference Player of the Year. She has played travel softball for Ohio Hawks.
"Drea is an extremely competitive pitcher who was the West Virginia Gatorade Player of the Year in 2025," said Gardner. "Drea has incredible movement on her pitches and commands the zone. She will give a different look from our other pitchers which will complement our entire pitching staff. Watching her compete this past summer with a broken finger tells me she is tough as nails. She will go through the wall for this program, and has the ability to make an immediate impact on our program.
"Overall, this is a great recruiting class for us. I'm very excited to see what lies ahead for this class and our program!"
Gardner and her staff, assistant coaches Greg McQuillin and Indya Smith, welcome back a total of 17 student-athletes from last year's team, and they are joined by seven newcomers. The 2026 Falcons will open the season on Friday, Feb. 6, at the 1868 Classic in Hampton, Va.
BGSU SOFTBALL SIGNEES
Lilly Atkinson – OF – East Troy, Wis. (Wisconsin Lightning)
Maddie Franke – Util. – Curtice, Ohio (Ohio Stingrays)
Brooklyn Kemp – P – Pittsburgh, Pa. (Indiana Magic Gold)
Mya Lewis – IF – Martinsville, Ind. (Diamond Dynamics)
Quinn Loar – C – Grove City, Ohio (Ohio Lasers Red)
Kadyn Sanchez – P –Oxnard, Calif. (Corona Angels)
Drea Watts – P – Barboursville, W. Va. (Ohio Hawks)
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Atkinson, an outfielder, is a senior at East Troy H.S. She was a first-team all-conference selection for the Trojans last season, when she hit .548 with a 1.691 OPS. Atkinson has played travel ball for Wisconsin Lightning.
"Lilly is a very competitive, strong athlete," said Gardner. "She is a solid outfielder who has a very good arm and great range. Offensively, Lilly hits for average but has power potential as well. I have had the pleasure of watching Lilly grow over the past few years. She has worked very hard to get to the next level and I look forward to watching her continue to grow with us. We are excited to have Lilly on campus next fall!"
Franke is a senior at Clay H.S., and was named to the All-Ohio Second Team last season. The utility player also was selected to the All-Northwest District First Team as well as the All-Northern Lakes League Team. She plays travel ball for Ohio Stingrays.
"Maddie is a versatile player who can catch and play outfield," said Gardner. "Offensively, Maddie hits for average but has power potential as well as great speed. While watching her over the past year I've grown to appreciate all she brings to the table. She is fast and smart on the field and will help us in many areas. Her ceiling is very high and we are excited for her to be a Falcon!"
Kemp, a pitcher, is in her senior year at Upper St. Clair H.S. She has been named to the All-Section Team in each of her first three seasons. Kemp has played travel ball for Indiana Magic Gold.
"Brooklyn is a very competitive pitcher who will complement our pitching staff with a very good mix of speeds," said Gardner. "'BK,' as she is known by her teammates and coaches, has a very calm demeanor on the mound. Whether she is starting a game or going into a tough situation her presence on the mound never changes; she is out there to do her job. Her ability to keep hitters off balance while facing some of the best players in the country makes her a great addition to our program."
Lewis, an infielder, is a senior at Martinsville H.S. She has played travel ball with Diamond Dynamics.
"Mya is a very athletic player who has the potential to play anywhere in the infield for us," Gardner said. "She hits for average but also has some power potential. I've had the pleasure of watching Mya grow as a softball player from the age of 10 when she played with my daughter in Indiana. I knew she would be a great player when she grew older and I am very excited to have the opportunity to work with her now in college."
Loar, a catcher, is in her senior year at Grove City H.S. She has earned All-Ohio Capital Conference honors in each of the last two seasons, and also has garnered All-District First-Team accolades. She has played travel ball with Ohio Lasers Red.
"Quinn is a very strong athlete who will see time behind the plate but could also see time at first," said Gardner. "Offensively she has power and we are looking for her to have an immediate impact on our program. Quinn is tough behind the plate and works well with her pitchers. She competes every pitch to help her pitcher, and her ability to win pitches will benefit us greatly."
Sanchez, a pitcher, is a senior at Santa Clara H.S., and was named to the California All-State First Team by Cal-HiSports. She also was named to the All-CIF Southern Section First Team. Sanchez has played travel ball for Corona Angels.
"Kadyn is a strong pitcher who competes against the toughest competition week in and week out in Southern California," said Gardner. "She is a dynamic competitor who is committed to being the best she can be. Kadyn works just as hard in the weight room as she does on the mound, understanding what it takes to be successful at the next level. She brings a mix of speed and movement and is not afraid of any situation."
Watts, a pitcher, is a senior at Cabell Midland H.S.. She was named the West Virginia Gatorade Player of the Year in 2024-25, and was also named Mountain State Athletic Conference Player of the Year. She has played travel softball for Ohio Hawks.
"Drea is an extremely competitive pitcher who was the West Virginia Gatorade Player of the Year in 2025," said Gardner. "Drea has incredible movement on her pitches and commands the zone. She will give a different look from our other pitchers which will complement our entire pitching staff. Watching her compete this past summer with a broken finger tells me she is tough as nails. She will go through the wall for this program, and has the ability to make an immediate impact on our program.
"Overall, this is a great recruiting class for us. I'm very excited to see what lies ahead for this class and our program!"
Gardner and her staff, assistant coaches Greg McQuillin and Indya Smith, welcome back a total of 17 student-athletes from last year's team, and they are joined by seven newcomers. The 2026 Falcons will open the season on Friday, Feb. 6, at the 1868 Classic in Hampton, Va.
BGSU SOFTBALL SIGNEES
Lilly Atkinson – OF – East Troy, Wis. (Wisconsin Lightning)
Maddie Franke – Util. – Curtice, Ohio (Ohio Stingrays)
Brooklyn Kemp – P – Pittsburgh, Pa. (Indiana Magic Gold)
Mya Lewis – IF – Martinsville, Ind. (Diamond Dynamics)
Quinn Loar – C – Grove City, Ohio (Ohio Lasers Red)
Kadyn Sanchez – P –Oxnard, Calif. (Corona Angels)
Drea Watts – P – Barboursville, W. Va. (Ohio Hawks)
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