Notre Dame Fighting Irish - Official Athletics Website

Five Prep Players Sign With Irish As Part Of 2022 Class

Nov. 8, 2017

NOTRE DAME, Ind. – The University of Notre Dame softball program completed the 2022 early signing period by officially signing five student-athletes to National Letters of Intent on Wednesday. The five-player class is set to arrive on the Notre Dame campus beginning in the fall 2018 semester.

Quinn Biggio, a right-handed infielder from Houston, Texas (Saint Agnes Academy), Emma Clark, a left-handed hitting, right-handed throwing outfielder from Huntington Beach, California (Mater Dei High School), Shelby Grimm, a right-handed catcher from Valparaiso, Indiana (Chesterton High School), Payton Tidd, a right-handed pitcher/infielder from Vista, California (San Marcos High School), and Anna Grace Wagner, a left-handed hitting, right-handed throwing infielder from Smyrna, Georgia (The Lovett School), will officially join the Notre Dame roster prior to the 2019 softball season.

“The offensive strength of this class is definitely speed,” Notre Dame head coach Deanna Gumpf said. “If you look at the entire class we are adding a lot of speed and game sense on offense. We’re also adding a big-time pitcher, which helps any class. We’ve had this group committed to Notre Dame for quite a while, and since committing they have each done a great job of coming into their own with their game and understanding their strengths in being reliable and dependable for their teams.”

For the latest news and updates on all things Notre Dame softball, visit www.und.com/softball, follow the Irish @NDsoftball and @NDcoachGumpf on Twitter and at Instagram.com/notredamesoftball, and Like the team at Facebook.com/NDSoftball.

Quinn Biggio – IF – 5-9 – R/R – Saint Agnes Academy – Houston, Texas

PREP AND PERSONAL:
– Letterwinner at Saint Agnes Academy in Houston.
– Earned first-team all-district and all-state honors as a junior, as Saint Agnes placed third in the Texas 6A TAPPS (Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools) state tournament.
– Claimed first-team honors at both the district and state levels as a member of the state championship runner-up as a sophomore.
– Named to the all-district and all-state first teams as a freshman.
– Has also lettered in volleyball at Saint Agnes, earning two all-state second-team nods and was the VYPE Magazine preseason runner-up for Houston’s best libero.
– Competes with the New Jersey Intensity on the club circuit, and placed ninth at 2017 PGF Nationals.
– Dean’s list recipient at Saint Agnes Academy.
– Has served as an ambassador for Saint Agnes in each of the last four years.
– Intern with Sunshine Kids, a non-profit organization dedicated to assisting children afflicted by cancer.
– Daughter of Craig and Patty Biggio and has two brothers, Conor and Cavan.
– Father, Craig, is special assistant to the general manager of the 2017 World Series champion Houston Astros. He was a baseball letterman at Seton Hall before playing 20 seasons with the Astros, and was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2015.
– Brothers, Conor (’15) and Cavan (completing degree), both played baseball at Notre Dame. Cavan is a member of the Toronto Blue Jays organization.
– Will become the third Houston resident to suit up for Notre Dame in program history, and the first since Sara Schoonaert (2003-06).

Coach Gumpf on Quinn Biggio:
“Quinn is a very athletic player and possesses a powerful punch at the plate. She has very good glove work and awareness, and is very fundamentally sound. She has a huge softball IQ and uses it well on the field, which I think helps her with her leadership because she is always someone who is very dependable.”

Emma Clark – OF – 5-8 – L/R – Mater Dei – Huntington Beach, California

PREP AND PERSONAL:
– Will earn fourth varsity softball letter playing for Mater Dei High School as a senior.
– Named the Mater Dei Offensive MVP as a junior after batting .425 with 37 hits, 22 RBI, five stolen bases, a .462 on-base percentage and 19 runs scored during junior season.
– Selected to the Trinity League First Team, and claimed All-CIF Second-Team honors.
– Batted .461 with 35 hits, seven RBI, eight stolen bases, .488 on-base percentage and 18 runs scored for the CIF-SS Division I champion Mater Dei as a sophomore.
– Logged a .405 batting average with three RBI, 14 stolen bases, a .436 on-base percentage and 29 runs scored as a freshman.
– Has also won a pair of varsity letters in soccer at Mater Dei.
– Competes for Firecrackers-Rico on the club circuit. Accomplishments have included championship titles at the 2017 Colorado Sparkler and Canada International Cup tournaments.
– Previously played for Firecrackers-Brashear, and won the 2016 PGF 16U Platinum Division Championship.
– Has earned the Principal’s Academic Award in each of four years.
– Attends the same high school as future Notre Dame teammate Melissa Rochford (current junior), and former Irish softball standouts Micaela Arizmendi (’16) and Heather Johnson (’10). Former Notre Dame football greats Joe Schmidt and 1964 Heisman Trophy winner John Huarte also attended Mater Dei.
– Daughter of Ben and Anne Clark and has two brothers, Michael and Jack.
– Father, Ben, played football at Princeton University.
– Mother, Anne, played volleyball at Boston College.
– Will become the 53rd California resident to suit up for Notre Dame in program history, and the ninth native of Huntington Beach to play for the Irish.

Coach Gumpf on Emma Clark:
“Emma is a true triple-threat who has been working on her power. She comes from a rich softball background and pedigree being from the Firecracker organization, she could become an impact player the way that she plays the game. She is continually making things happen on the field and she drives defenses nuts because you never know to expect from her. Emma is able to do so many different things and runs really well.”

Shelby Grimm – C – 5-5 – R/R – Chesterton – Valparaiso, Indiana

PREP AND PERSONAL:
– Multi-year letterwinner at Chesterton High School.
– Batted .414 with 25 RBI, 19 stolen bases, a .713 on-base percentage and 32 runs scored as a junior catcher.
– Named to the NFCA North All-Region First Team, all-state first team, all-area first team and All-Duneland Athletic Conference, adding team MVP honors after junior campaign.
– Hit at a .449 clip with 17 stolen bases and 31 runs scored as a sophomore shortstop.
– Earned all-state second-team recognition at the end of sophomore season, along with all-area and all-conference accolades. Tabbed as team MVP.
– Batted .390 with 29 runs scored as an all-area centerfielder as a freshman.
– Competes with the Beverly Bandits on the club circuit, and was the battery mate of current Notre Dame freshman pitcher Alexis Holloway.
– Bandits won the 2017 PGF 18U National Championship and 2016 PGF Shootout, and placed in the top 10 at the 2016 PGF 18U Nationals.
– Member of the National Honor Society, and has been an Honor Roll and Principal’s Honor Roll selection.
– Daughter of Jeff and Tracy Grimm and has one sister, Cassidy.
– Father, Jeff, played baseball at Valparaiso.
– Will be the 18th Indiana resident to suit up for Notre Dame in program history, and the first from Valparaiso.

Coach Gumpf on Shelby Grimm:
“Shelby is a true team player in every aspect of the game, she is going to do whatever it takes to help her team win. As a catcher, she gives everything she has to a pitching staff and is extremely poised and confident behind the plate. You can see that when she plays. Shelby is a huge positive energy giver, and is someone that you want around all of the time.”

Payton Tidd – RHP/IF – 5-10 – R/R – San Marcos – Vista, California

PREP AND PERSONAL:
– Multi-year letterwinner at San Marcos High School.
– Led San Marcos with a .422 batting average, adding 38 hits, six home runs, seven doubles, 39 RBI, a .455 on-base percentage and 23 runs scored as a junior.
– Won third straight Avocado League Pitcher of the Year award after compiling a 20-3 record with a 0.82 ERA, striking out 111 batters in 123 innings. Chipped in four shutouts.
– Named first-team all-state, and added All-CIF First-Team accolades.
– Recorded a 19-1 record with a 1.18 ERA in 131 innings, striking out 126 batters for the CIF Open Division champion San Marcos to repeat as Avocado League Pitcher of the Year as a sophomore.
– Added a .300 batting average that season as an All-CIF First-Team choice, and was an all-state selection by CalHi Sports.
– As a freshman, batted .427 with 17 doubles and 25 RBI to claim an all-league first-team scroll.
– Earned first Avocado League Pitcher of the Year award with a 15-4 mark, striking 104 batters in 110 innings.
– Has also lettered in volleyball at San Marcos.
– Has played with both the So Cal Athletics-Richardson and Athletics-Mercado TO on the club circuit, with top-five finishes at PGF Nationals in 2014, 2015 and 2016. Club team placed first at both the PGF Shootout and Colorado Sparkler tournaments in 2015.
– Has received the San Marcos president’s award in each of three academic years.
– Volunteer at the Helen Woodward Animal Center.
– Daughter of Steve and Jennifer Tidd and has one sister, Kennedy.
– Will become the 54th California resident to suit up for Notre Dame in program history, and the first from Vista.

Coach Gumpf on Payton Tidd:
“Payton is a competitor. She’s a proven winner, and she’s the kind of pitcher who always wants the ball. We are looking for her to become a force here at Notre Dame on the mound. Payton is truly a leader in the circle and is extremely dependable for her team.”

Anna Grace Wagner – IF – 5-3 – L/R – The Lovett School – Smyrna, Georgia

PREP AND PERSONAL:
– Four-year letterwinner at shortstop.
– Career .483 hitter with a .621 on-base percentage, good enough for the team lead in each of four seasons.
– Stole 39 bases in 41 steal attempts during high school career.
– Claimed all-region and all-state honors as part of a regional championship team as a senior.
– Tabbed as an all-region selection and Offensive Player of the Year in both sophomore and junior seasons playing for the 2015 and 2016 regional runner-up.
– Has most recently competed with the 18U EC Bullets Schnute, Atlanta Vipers Palazzo and Atlanta Vipers Laukka on the club circuit. Club accomplishments include runner-up at the 2016 Junior Olympic Cup in the 18Gold division, along with fifth place at the 2017 ASA 18G Gold Nationals and USA Elite Select Nationals.
– Honor Roll recipient at The Lovett School.
– Member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
– Instructor for Champions Fast Pitch Softball.
– Daughter of Aaron and Scarlett Wagner and has two brothers, Lance and Jerod, and one sister, Ivey.
– Father, Aaron, played baseball at Army West Point.
– Sister, Ivey, plays softball at Cornell.
– Has moved 10 different times and attended nine different schools while father has served as a U.S. Army officer. Has played travel softball for teams in Florida, Virginia, Maryland, Missouri, Kansas and Georgia.

Coach Gumpf on Anna Grace Wagner:
“Anna Grace is a big combination of speed, power and finesse. She plays the game really hard and is a gritty player, the kind of player that you can put anywhere. She’s super athletic and can play in the infield or outfield, she can do everything. Anna Grace is just a gamer, she likes to make big things happen in big situations.”