The Iowa State softball team will be traveling to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, to compete in the Puerto Vallarta College Challenge to start off the 2024 season.

The Puerto Vallarta College Challenge will consist of teams all over the U.S. including the Blue Devils from Duke and the Huskies from Washington, two highly ranked teams.

Last season the Cyclones finished with an overall record of 25-30 and were 6-12 in Big 12 play.

Iowa State went into the fall scrimmage season with pitching being one of its main strengths that the team plans to carry over to help the 2024 season. Iowa State head coach Jamie Pinkerton and his staff had to fill a huge role in the circle after Ellie Spelhaug graduated last season.

Pinkerton is excited to get seniors Saya Swain and Karlie Charles in the circle to bring that leadership role that the Cyclones need.

Two players for the Cyclones who play a huge part in the infield are Carli Spelhaug and Alesia Ranches, both back for their fifth years at Iowa State. Both have taken on a huge leadership role for Iowa State in the infield as they are going into the 2024 season.

Pinkerton is also relying a lot on his returning players, specifically in his 10 seniors who will be graduating at the end of the school year.

With years of experience, the senior players will bring in all they have learned over last season to help the incoming freshmen and underclassmen.

Iowa State softball and Pinkerton are excited for the upcoming 2024 season knowing that it is going to be a tough one. The Cyclones will start the season off by playing two top-15 teams in both Duke and Washington while they are in Mexico.

The Cyclones will start off the season against Utah Valley at 4 p.m. Thursday in Puerto Vallarta.