Waterloo, IA – One of the most beautiful parts about the game of baseball is that players and teams have the opportunity to accomplish something never before achieved each day on the diamond. In 2025, the Waterloo Bucks attained a season filled with these achievements with team and league records in one of the most memorable summers in the history of the organization.

For starters, the club concluded the campaign with 42 wins — a total that tied the mark for the fifth most victories in franchise history. Additionally, for just the third time since 2006 (the last year data is available), the Bucks won at least 20 games in both halves as they finished the year with 21 wins in the first and second halves.  Waterloo’s win total improved by five from the 2024 campaign, with the squad finishing 12 games over .500 and having the second-best overall record in the Great Plains East Division.

The Bucks played exceptionally well as the home team with a record of 25-11 in those contests. They finished the campaign with a mark of 25-13 at Riverfront Stadium as they dropped two games while playing as the visiting club in front of the home crowd.

By the end of the campaign, Waterloo tallied franchise bests in runs (514), runs batted in (448), walks (432), hit-by-pitches (95) and stolen bases (227). The Bucks galvanized their production en route to these records through a hot start at the beginning of the year, propelled by a season-high seven-game winning streak from May 29 through June 5.

Beginning 2025 with a record of 13-3, the Bucks earned their best winning percentage through their first 16 games since 2009 (the last year data is available), foreshadowing a historic season. The bullpen did not allow an earned run until the sixth game of the season as the relievers kickstarted the year with an ERA of 0.00 through their first 22.1 innings pitched.

The sixth game of the season also marked Field Manager Darrell Handelsman’s 500th victory for his Northwoods League career with a 9-8 win over the Mankato MoonDogs. With the 6-2 Waterloo victory over the Rochester Honkers on June 17, Handelsman notched his 500th career regular season win. Under his leadership, the Bucks pieced together an unforgettable year.

Ranking second in the Northwoods League with their franchise-record 227 steals, the Bucks received an unfathomable boost from outfielder Larry Edwards who shattered the NWL single-season stolen base record. Edwards claimed the crown by breaking the previous top number of 55 set by current Tampa Bay Ray Chandler Simpson in 2021 for the Fond du Lac Dock Spiders. He went on to tie the league’s all-time career steals record of 90 with Joey Bonadonna (2005-2008) of the Duluth Huskies and Madison Mallards. However, while Bonadonna achieved this mark across four different seasons, Edwards did it in just 116 games.

Edwards also scored 63 runs this season — a new Waterloo Bucks single-season best previously held by Chesny Young who tallied 62 runs in 2013.

For individual accolades, Edwards’ records were just the beginning for Waterloo this year.

His McNeese State University teammate Marcus Heusohn also shined with two NWL career records. First, he crushed the all-time walks record by logging 169 career base on balls to surpass Bonadonna who posted 129. Then, he scored 156 runs to outperform the previous mark of 137 set by Mason McCoy of the La Crosse Loggers from 2015 through 2016.

In addition to his NWL records, Heusohn eclipsed some Waterloo franchise highs with his performance in 2025. Heusohn finished the season with the most games by played by any Buck in the history of the organization with 193 appearances in his career. He also set the single-season base on balls record for Waterloo with 68 walks to pass Patrick Ferguson’s 2019 mark of 65.

Jake Bechtel and Jimmy Nugent also cemented their legacies in Waterloo with their achievements. They both rocked 12 home runs to tie Adam McGinnis from his 2016 season for the third most long balls in a single season by a Buck. The 2025 campaign featured two Waterloo players reaching double-digit home run totals for the only time other than the 1997 campaign with Ryan Gripp (11) and Matt Cepicky (10).

Bechtel also set the Bucks’ single-season record for runs batted in with 64. That sum ranked third in the NWL for that category. Nugent pulled in directly behind him with 60 — a number tied for third in a single season in Waterloo history. No other team in the history of the Bucks featured two players with 60 or more runs batted in. Additionally, it was only the fourth time two players on the roster drove in 50 or more.

The organization awarded the 2025 Waterloo Bucks Player of the Year Award as voted on by Season Ticket Holders to co-recipients Bechtel and Edwards for their historic seasons. It is the first time the Bucks have ever given the honor to multiple players in the same season. Furthermore, with Edwards winning the 2024 award as well, he becomes the only player in Bucks history to claim the achievement in consecutive campaigns.

Bechtel, Edwards and Nugent all received end-of-the-year honors as the three bats all earned a spot on the NWL Postseason All-Star Team. For Bechtel, the recognition adds to a list of selections he received from the first half, including a position on the NWL Great Plains Division All-Star Team and in the 2025 NWL Home Run Derby. Reliver Tyler Glowacki also became a Great Plains Division All-Star, posting a team-best 5-0 record with a stellar 2.05 ERA. He also struck out 38 in 26.1 IP while limiting his opponent’s batting average to .202.

Aidan Elfering led the starters in wins with four as he topped the staff with five quality starts. He concluded the year with an ERA of 3.51 across 51.1 IP with only 13 walks. Elfering made his best outing of the season on July 24 at Wade Stadium against the Duluth Huskies. The righty hurled only the seventh nine-inning complete game in Waterloo history since 2009 (the last year data is available) in a 3-1 Bucks victory.

Brandon Rice led the squad in pitching appearances with 26, ranking second in the NWL in that category. He also posted a 4-0 record with three saves to log an ERA of 3.32. He did not allow an earned run in each of his last 15.2 IP.

Chris Petersen also made his presence felt on the Bucks pitching staff by going 3-0 with three quality starts in five games. He lowered his ERA to 2.12 with a WHIP of 1.04 to end the season.

Eli Pillsbury also maintained an ERA below four as a starter in the rotation with a mark of 3.98 while Logan Boenker led the club in saves with four.

Two of the most memorable offensive performances occurred on the road. First, on June 8 at Carson Park, Bennett Fryman clubbed two home runs and drove in eight — the most in a single game all year by any Bucks player. Waterloo finished with a team-high four long balls that day as Jimmy Nugent also blasted a pair.

One month later, Nugent, notched five hits in one game — the most in a single contest all year for a Bucks bat — as Waterloo defeated La Crosse 15-6 in game two of a doubleheader on July 8 at Copeland Park. Nugent cranked two balls over the wall in that contest as well.

In the same game, Gannon Wentz delivered the longest relief appearance of the season by any Bucks pitcher with five and two-thirds hitless innings for his first career NWL win. He went on to win three more games to finish the campaign with a perfect 4-0 record in nine games while securing an ERA of 3.38.

Bechtel was the proud possessor of the lone Waterloo walk-off this season as he walloped a three-run homer to catapult the Bucks in front of the Rochester Honkers 7-5 with one out in game one of a doubleheader on June 9.

Finally, Edwards stole six bases against the Thunder Bay Border Cats at Riverfront Stadium on June 6. Since 2009 (the last year data is available), no other Waterloo player has accomplished this feat.

With the 31st season of Bucks baseball now over, the team looks forward with great anticipation for its 32nd season in 2026.

Players Moving into the Bucks’ Single-Season Top 10 Lists:

• Jake Bechtel (NC St.) – 64 RBI – Sets new single-season record – Former record was 62 by Adam McGinnis (2016, W. Illinois)
• Marcus Heusohn (McNeese St.) – 68 Walks – Sets new single-season record – Former record was 65 by Patrick Ferguson (2019, Kent St.)
• Larry Edwards (McNeese St.) – 67 Stolen Bases – Sets new single-season record – Former record was 48 by Lucas Moore (2024, Louisville)
• Larry Edwards (McNeese St.) – 63 Runs – Sets new single-season record – Former record was 62 by Chesny Young (2013, Mercer)
• Larry Edwards (McNeese St.) – 69 Games – tied for 2nd most with Brendan Hueth (2018, St. Joseph’s) & Mike Nyisztor (2019, Rutgers); record is 72 by Jay Schuyler (2017, San Diego)
• Jimmy Nugent (Lincoln Trail Coll.) – 60 RBI – tied for 3rd most with Luis Rivera (1995, Florida Southern); record is 64 by Jake Bechtel (2025, NC St.)
• Jake Bechtel (NC St.) – 12 Home Runs – tied for 3rd most with Adam McGinnis (2016, W. Illinois) & Jimmy Nugent (2025, Lincoln Trail Coll.); record is 13 by Zach Daeges (2005, Creighton) & Peyton Williams (2020, Iowa)
• Jimmy Nugent (Lincoln Trail Coll.) – 12 Home Runs – tied for 3rd most with Jake Bechtel (2025, NC St.) & Adam McGinnis (2016, W. Illinois); record is 13 by Zach Daeges (2005, Creighton) & Peyton Williams (2020, Iowa)
• Larry Edwards (McNeese St.) – 53 Walks – tied for 7th most with Marcus Heusohn (2023, Lindenwood); record is 68 by Marcus Heusohn (2025, McNeese St.)
• Jake Bechtel (NC St.) – 56 Runs – 9th most – Record is 63 by Larry Edwards (2025, McNeese St.)
• Marcus Heusohn (McNeese St.) – 54 Runs – 10th most – Record is 63 by Larry Edwards (2025, McNeese St.)

Players Moving into the Bucks’ Career Top 10 Lists:

• Marcus Heusohn (Lindenwood, UIC, & McNeese St.) – 193 Games – Sets new career record – Former record was 185 by Michael Giller (2007-09, Illinois)
• Marcus Heusohn (Lindenwood, UIC, & McNeese St.) – 169 Walks – Sets new career record – Former record was 109 by Pat MacKenzie (2013-14, C. Michigan)
• Marcus Heusohn (Lindenwood, UIC, & McNeese St.) – 156 Runs – Sets new career record – Former record was 129 by Shayne Carnes (1995-97, UAB)
• Larry Edwards (N. Oklahoma Coll.-Tonkawa & McNeese St.) – 90 Stolen Bases – Sets new career record – Former record was 61 by Pat MacKenzie (2013-14, C. Michigan)
• Marcus Heusohn (Lindenwood, UIC, & McNeese St.) – 110 RBI – 2nd most – Record is 152 by Shayne Carnes (1995-97, UAB)
• Marcus Heusohn (Lindenwood, UIC, & McNeese St.) – 676 At Bats – 3rd most – Record is 703 by Shayne Carnes (1995-97, UAB)
• Marcus Heusohn (Lindenwood, UIC, & McNeese St.) – 185 Hits – 4th most – Record is 237 by Shayne Carnes (1995-97, UAB)
• Larry Edwards (N. Oklahoma Coll.-Tonkawa & McNeese St.) – 32 Doubles – 4th most – Record is 50 by Shayne Carnes (1995-97, UAB)
• Larry Edwards (N. Oklahoma Coll.-Tonkawa & McNeese St.) – 78 Walks – tied for 5th most with Seth VonBehren (1998-99, Illinois St.); record is 169 by Marcus Heusohn (2025, Lindenwood, UIC, & McNeese St.)
• Larry Edwards (N. Oklahoma Coll.-Tonkawa & McNeese St.) – 109 Runs – 6th most – Record is 156 by Marcus Heusohn (2023-25, Lindenwood, UIC, & McNeese St.)
• Marcus Heusohn (Lindenwood, UIC, & McNeese St.) – 30 Doubles – 6th most – Record is 50 by Shayne Carnes (1995-97, UAB)
• Larry Edwards (N. Oklahoma Coll.-Tonkawa & McNeese St.) – 80 RBI – 9th most – Record is 152 by Shayne Carnes (1995-97, UAB)
• Jake Bechtel (NC St.) – 12 Home Runs – tied for 9th most with Jimmy Nugent (2025, Lincoln Trail Coll.) & Kevin Sawatzky (1995-96, N. Iowa); record is 21 by Shayne Carnes (1995-97, UAB)
• Jimmy Nugent (Lincoln Trail Coll.) – 12 Home Runs – tied for 9th most with Jake Bechtel (2025, NC St.) & Kevin Sawatzky (1995-96, N. Iowa); record is 21 by Shayne Carnes (1995-97, UAB)