Following one of the most successful seasons in Kellogg Community College baseball history, the KCC baseball program has finalized its 2025-26 sophomore transfer class, with 15 of the program’s 22 sophomore graduates continuing their academic and athletic careers at four-year institutions.
The Bruins put together a historic 2025-26 season, setting a new school record with 49 wins, earning the first No. 1 national ranking in program history and capturing a regional championship to secure a berth in the NJCAA World Series for the third consecutive season. The three straight World Series appearances mark another first for the KCC baseball program.
While the on-field accomplishments were impressive, the success of the 2025-26 team extended well beyond the diamond.
All 22 KCC baseball sophomores earned their associate degrees, making them official KCC graduates. As a team, the Bruins earned National Junior College Athletic Association Academic Team of the Year and Michigan Community College Athletic Association All-Academic Team honors, posting an outstanding 3.52 team GPA.
Of the 22 sophomore graduates, 15 will continue their student athlete journeys at four-year institutions. Seven of those student athletes will continue competing at the NCAA Division I level.
The 15 KCC baseball graduates continuing their academic and athletic careers at four-year institutions are:
- Payton Bookwalter (Edwardsburg/Edwardsburg High School), Gardner-Webb University
- Daniel Calhoun (Portage/Portage Central High School), Davenport University
- Amare Curran (Madison Heights/Lamphere High School), Alcorn State University
- Gavin Engelsman (Rockford/Rockford High School), Taylor University
- Ricky Hamm (Homewood, Illinois/Homewood-Flossmoor Community High School), Purdue University Northwest
- Ty Jenkins (Sterling Heights/Stevenson High School), Davenport University
- Caleb Kidd (Trenton/Trenton High School), Western Michigan University
- Gerry Klos (Allen Park/Allen Park High School), University of Northwestern Ohio
- Jake Kucharczyk (Battle Creek/Lakeview High School), Penn State University
- Zach Kucharczyk (Battle Creek/Lakeview High School), Indiana State University
- Mason Meads (Chelsea/Chelsea High School), Albion College
- Joshua Midbo (Chesterfield/L’Anse Creuse North High School), Tulane University
- Tyler Morehouse (Taylor/Gabriel Richard Catholic High School), Barry University
- JT Sawdon (Rochester/Rochester High School), Ohio University
- Jake Stickler (Allen Park/Allen Park High School), Davenport University
“This group represents everything we want KCC Athletics to be about,” KCC Athletic Director Drew Fleming said. “They experienced an incredible amount of success on the field, but what stands out most is what they accomplished academically and the opportunities they have created for themselves beyond Kellogg Community College. To have every sophomore earn an associate degree, be recognized as part of an NJCAA Academic All-American team, and then see so many continue on to four-year institutions is something our entire college and Athletics Department can be incredibly proud of.”
The accomplishments of the sophomore class cap a remarkable two-year run for KCC baseball. During their time in Battle Creek, which saw two conference championships, two NJCAA Region XII Championships and back-to-back appearances at the NJCAA World Series, the sophomores helped the Bruins cement themselves as one of the premier programs in the NJCAA while continuing to emphasize academic achievement, community engagement and preparing student athletes for the next level.
The 2025-26 season will be remembered for the wins, championships and historic national recognition, but the continued advancement of the program’s student athletes may ultimately be its most lasting achievement.
KCC baseball’s 2025-26 sophomore class leaves behind a legacy of success on the field, impact in our community, achievement in the classroom and opportunity at the next level.
For more information about KCC’s baseball team, including a full roster, stats and more, visit kelloggbruins.com/sports/bsb.
For more news about Kellogg Community College, view our latest press releases online at https://daily.kellogg.edu/category/news-releases.
