DWU's Jaycee Tebay wins season-opening GPAC softball player of the week honor

Sophomore third baseman had a big opening weekend for the Tigers

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Dakota Wesleyan University softball player Jaycee Tebay was named the Great Plains Athletic Conference's first softball player of the week for the 2026 season. Tebay, a sophomore from Dell Rapids, went 7-for-11 at the plate in four games, hitting two home runs and driving in eight RBIs, including a grand slam in a 7-0 win over Mount Mercy.

Why it matters

Tebay's strong opening weekend performance helped the Tigers win all four games in the American State Bank Sports Classic in Sioux Center, Iowa, giving new head coach Stephen Oswald Jr. his first career coaching victories. The Tigers were a program-best 34-16 last season and are looking to build on that success.

The details

Tebay started at third base for the Tigers and led the team's offensive outburst, which included a 10-9 win over York (Neb.) and a 7-0 win over Culver-Stockton (Mo.) on Feb. 6, as well as a 6-5 win over Mayville State (N.D.) on Feb. 7. As a sophomore last season, Tebay hit .302 in 32 games as a part-time starter, but she's already matched her two home runs from 2025 and nearly surpassed her total of 10 RBIs.

  • The Tigers won all four games in the American State Bank Sports Complex Softball Classic in Sioux Center, Iowa on February 6-7, 2026.
  • Tebay was named the Great Plains Athletic Conference's first softball player of the week for the 2026 season on February 11, 2026.

The players

Jaycee Tebay

A sophomore third baseman for the Dakota Wesleyan University softball team who had a standout opening weekend, going 7-for-11 at the plate with two home runs and eight RBIs.

Stephen Oswald Jr.

The first-year head coach of the Dakota Wesleyan University softball team, who earned his first career coaching victories in the team's 4-0 start to the season.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What’s next

The Tigers will play a road doubleheader on Saturday, February 14 at NCAA Division II Northern State in Aberdeen, starting at 1 p.m. They play their first 26 games away from Mitchell, with the home opener scheduled for March 18 against Northwestern at McWhirter Field.

The takeaway

Jaycee Tebay's strong start to the season has helped the Dakota Wesleyan University softball team win all four of its games to open the year, giving new head coach Stephen Oswald Jr. his first career coaching victories. The Tigers are looking to build on their program-best 34-16 record from last season and Tebay's early offensive production is a positive sign for their chances of continued success.