Kara Griswold named first GM for La Crosse softball Northwoods team; mascot announcement coming soon

The first Northwoods League softball team now has a general manager.

Kara Griswold has been named GM of the La Crosse softball Northwoods team — the sister team to the La Crosse Loggers baseball club.

“We are very impressed with her extensive background in sports and love her passion for women’s athletics,” La Crosse co-owner Dan Kapanke said.

La Crosse softball is set to announce its team name Jan. 25 as part of the Winter Baseball BBQ at the Riverside Ballroom in the La Crosse Center, downtown. The public chose these five finalists:  Legacy, Velocity, Steam, Cruisers and Maple Leafs.

So far, three Northwoods softball teams have been announced — Mankato, Minn., and Minot, N.D., being the other two cities.

Back in October, La Crosse was the first city to announce a team, followed by Mankato, then Minot on Nov. 1. No other teams have been announced since. The season is expected to start in June.

Griswold, who grew up in Olathe, Kan., moved to the upper Midwest and played women’s basketball at UW-Stout. There, she was a three-time scholar athlete and a five-time chancellor’s scholar, graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in business administration with an emphasis in sports management and marketing.

She then took a position as a graduate assistant to the athletic director and communications director, while earning her Master’s degree in sports management, from Baker University.

At the same time, Griswold also worked as a program administrator for Kansas Elite Girls Basketball, a competitive AAU traveling club based in Kansas City.