MAHOMET — Mahomet-Seymour athletics has seen numerous individuals go on to compete at the next level in recent years, most notably a pair of two-time News-Gazette Players of the Year in Avery Allen on the volleyball court and Blake Wolters on the baseball field.
Allen is preparing for her first beach volleyball season at Boise State University, and Wolters skipped college to head straight for the professional ranks after the Kansas City Royals selected him in the second round of the 2023 MLB draft. The 19-year-old Wolters is currently with the Columbia Fireflies in Class A.
But the next wave of Bulldog greats have wasted no time introducing themselves to the world. Junior volleyball player Lily Bosworth will be playing for Michigan State University in two years’ time, and seniors Ellie Barker and Mason Orton have committed to Butler University volleyball and Northern Illinois University baseball, respectively.
A look back
Bosworth a Big Ten talent
As a sophomore in 2023, Bosworth had a lot of weight on her shoulders.
Not just because the young star was the starting middle blocker on one of the best volleyball teams in the state, but because there were numerous college coaches in the stands throughout the season, and most of their eyes were on her.
“At first, I didn’t quite believe what was happening. It all happened so fast,” Bosworth said. “I wasn’t super stressed about it because I knew I had so much time and that I couldn’t commit until the summer and they were just coming to watch me, so I was never too nervous, but there were a few times where I was like, ‘OK, now I have to take this seriously.’”
Bosworth is a player who already puts a lot of pressure on herself to play well, and this ramped it up. She had a great season with 188 kills, 80 blocks and an All-Apollo Conference Second-Team selection, and she found a way to also showcase herself as more than just a volleyball player.
“I’m very self-critical, especially when it comes to volleyball,” Bosworth said. “I want to be the best, play the hardest and get seen the most, but I had to get used to the fact that every game isn’t going to be my best game. Once I figured that out, I used those bad games to show that I can be better off the court, too.”
As the recruitment process continued, she got used to the pressure, and her list of potential landing spots eventually narrowed to three Big Ten programs: Michigan State, Ohio State and Purdue. After visiting Michigan State, she knew she wanted to be a Spartan, and she committed on Aug. 1.
“I love the coaches, the facilities are so nice and the campus is beautiful,” Bosworth said. “There were so many things there where I was like, ‘This is a lot different. I feel like I can’t find this anywhere else.’ My family really likes the school, and that was a big thing for me.”
Now, here she is, only halfway through her high school career and already knowing her next step is competing in arguably the toughest conference in college volleyball. She said it’s a freeing feeling, and she’s hoping it can help her lead M-S to its first regional title since 2019.
“It was a real stress-reliever, not having to talk to other schools and finding my place,” Bosworth said. “Now, I can just focus on the season and not worry about people watching me. It was nice to see all my hard work pay off and see that I actually have a plan going on to college.”
Barker staying a Bulldog
When Barker arrives on Butler’s campus next fall, she’ll already have plenty of Bulldog gear. It might not have the same color scheme, but she’s ready to continue her Bulldog pride.
“Just the environment,” Barker said of what she’s most looking forward to at Butler. “I love how close-knit of a campus it is. It’s definitely a place I’m going to feel welcome and enjoy my time.”
Barker announced her commitment back on April 16, but her recruitment process was a little less straightforward than Bosworth’s. She said she talked to a lot of schools in the early stages, but none of them stood out to her. Once February and March rolled around, she realized she needed to do some legwork of her own. Her family once lived in the Indianapolis area, and that’s how she learned about Butler.
“It was a rollercoaster,” Barker said. “I visited there by myself and fell in love with it. After that, I was in communication with the coaches, and they watched me play at a tournament. I went on my official visit and fell in love with it even more after seeing all the facilities and meeting some of the players. I got an offer and committed basically right away.”
Barker earned All-Apollo Conference First-Team honors last year as a junior after tallying 226 kills, 188 digs and 62 aces, and she has many of the same goals in mind for M-S as Bosworth this fall.
“It works in our favor in a lot of ways,” Barker said of having multiple Division I players leading the way. “We have that talent, but other teams see us as kind of a threat. I feel like we’re on the higher end. It’s just a good feeling knowing how much talent we have. It makes me more hopeful about what’s going to happen this season.”
Orton next great M-S pitcher
Heading into the 2024 baseball season, Orton was tasked with being one of the leaders of the Bulldogs’ pitching staff after the graduation of Wolters. After the season, Orton had done something Wolters never did, helping M-S win its first sectional title since 2000.
“Every game in that postseason run was exciting,” Orton said. “It was really fun to be a part of that and pitch in some of those big games. It was awesome, and I’m hoping to do it again.”
His individual accomplishments weren’t too bad, either, compiling a 6-0 record with a 1.79 ERA and 84 strikeouts, which turned his summer into a recruitment process. Orton received consistent texts and calls from college coaches throughout the spring season, and some came to watch him pitch. He got a few junior college offers over the summer, but it wasn’t until recently that some Division I schools came calling. Northern Illinois was one of them, and after a visit on Aug. 8, he knew it was “the right fit for me.”
“The coaching staff is all fairly new, and they all clicked with me,” Orton said. “They have the facilities for me to be able to develop into a better player than I already am, and that was a big deal for me. Once I got in the car to go home after, it felt like home.”
With one more year left before heading to NIU, Orton is planning to make the most of it. He’s ready to lead the Bulldogs to repeat their success from last season and simply have fun along the way.
“It’s just going to be another year of playing ball with my boys and enjoying high school baseball,” Orton said. “The Bulldogs are going to have another strong year. We’re bringing back a lot, and I think we’re going to make a big run and get our name out there again.”
Shoutouts
They’re finally back. Here are all the shoutouts I could track down during the last month. And another reminder to email me any shoutouts you can think of at zpiatt@news-gazette.com, or tag me on X/Twitter @zachpiatt13.
Centennial track and field athletes
Voldy Makabu, Jake Geissler and Noelle Hunt each had successful performances at the AAU Region 13 Championships in early July. Makabu won the boys’ high jump, clearing 6 feet, 6¾ inches. Geissler placed second in the boys’ 1,500-meter run with a time of 4 minutes, 17.87 seconds and fourth in the boys’ 800 in 2:04.24. Hunt was the runner-up in the girls’ long jump with a distance of 17-2 as well as the heptathlon with a score of 3,305. Their performances qualified them for the AAU Junior Olympics in early August in Greensboro, N.C.
Makabu went on to become an All-American at the Junior Olympics with a sixth-place finish in the high jump by clearing 6-6¾.
St. Thomas More football team
In July, the Sabers were recognized as a state champion by the National Football Foundation as part of the 2023-24 NFF National High School Academic Excellence Awards.
Eli Craft, Monticello baseball
Announced his commitment to continue his baseball career at John A. Logan College in Carterville on July 19.
Milford baseball team
The Bearcats were one of nearly 350 high school baseball teams nationally to receive a 2023-24 American Baseball Coaches Association Academic Excellence Award on July 24.
Reis Claybrooke and Brooke Hartman, Mahomet-Seymour golf
Claybrooke and Hartman won the boys’ and girls’ Central Illinois Junior Golf Tour event in the 16-17 age group on July 25 at Lake of the Woods Golf Course. Claybrooke won with a round of 66, which broke the tournament record, and Hartman shot an 81. The following week, Claybrooke won the Lake of the Woods Men’s Club Championship with a score of 69.
St. Thomas More volleyball team
The Sabers finished their preseason competition by winning the Parkland College Summer Tournament during the last week of July. Addie Kerr, Shannon Monahan and Cassidy Monahan made the All-Tournament Team.
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