AMES, Iowa – Five Cyclones have been named to the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Midwest All-Region Team, the organization announced Thursday afternoon. The Midwest Region featured representation from 16 teams, with ISU tying for the second-most players of any school.
Reagan Bartholomew (Second Team – SS), Jessie Clemons (Second Team – OF), Karlee Ford (Second Team – C), Tatum Johnson (Second Team – OF) and Kadence Shepherd (Third Team – 2B) all collected postseason recognition for the Cyclones, marking the 14th-consecutive season that ISU has had at least one player honored by the NFCA.
With five All-Region recipients, Iowa State has broken the school record for most in a single season, surpassing the previous high of four set both in 2014 and 2021. ISU’s four second-team honorees are the most ISU has put on a single All-Region Team. Three Cyclones, Bartholomew, Clemons and Johnson, earned NFCA honors for the second time in their careers while both Ford and Shepherd picked up first-time recognition.
Oklahoma led the way in the Midwest, as all eight nominees were recognized by the NFCA. Iowa State, along with Omaha, had the second-most players of any school with five. WKU and Missouri each had three representatives.
Bartholomew, a Waukee, Iowa native, landed herself on the second team after a prolific season at the plate. She slashed .415/.502/.784, leading the Cyclones in all three categories. Bartholomew led the team in runs scored (55), hits (71), home runs (15) and walks drawn (32). Her 32 walks were the most ever drawn by a Cyclone in a single season.
Making her second consecutive appearance on the Midwest Second Team, Jessie Clemons did it all for ISU. Clemons led off in each game for the Cyclones, collecting 23 doubles to lead the squad. At the end of the regular season, Clemons’ 23 doubles led the nation. After making the team last year as a DP/Utility, Clemons earned her 2026 spot as an outfielder, as she held down left field in her sophomore campaign.
Ford earned her first career NFCA recognition, landing on the Midwest Second Team. After splitting time as the team’s starting catcher as a freshman, Ford started all but 11 games behind the dish as a sophomore. In her second season with the Cyclones, Ford had the fourth-most hits (59) and the second-most RBI (49). Defensively, she had a caught stealing percentage of 44% and fielded the ball at a .983 clip.
Rounding out ISU’s Second Team members, Tatum Johnson earned NFCA All-Region honors for the second-straight year after making the First Team in 2025. Johnson slashed .388/.464/.713, finishing second on the team in all three categories behind Bartholomew. Johnson led the Cyclones in RBI (51), which is the fifth most in a single season by a Cyclone.
The Cyclones’ final honoree came on the third team with second baseman Kadence Shepherd. Shepherd, a Missouri transfer, was a standout in her sophomore season. After playing in just six games as a freshman at Mizzou, Shepherd was a defensive stalwart on the infield and a powerful force at the plate. Her 48 RBI were the third-most on the team, and her 12 homers were tied for the second-most.
NFCA member head coaches from each respective region nominated student-athletes and voted for the teams. All awarded student-athletes now become eligible for the 2026 NFCA Division I All-America squads. The NFCA Division I All-America teams, voted on by the NFCA DI All-American Committee, will be announced at a later date.
