Area athletes celebrate National Signing Day

Local athletes signed their letters of intent on Wednesday. (Photo courtesy: Heart of Illinois ABC)

By Heart of Illinois ABC

NORMAL – Long-time childhood dreams came true across the Heart of Illinois on Wednesday as area athletes signed their letters of intent to continue their careers at the collegiate level on National Signing Day.

At Normal U-High, it was a big day for the baseball program as 8 players from the Pioneers’ state third-place team signed to play college baseball, including four at the Division I level. Jake Swartz is set to play at Illinois. Chase Adams will play at Southern Miss. Evan Jones signed with Western Kentucky and Jack Bach with Central Michigan. Four DI players on one team is something special and this senior class knows just how lucky they are.

“We have 8 signees, 4 Divison I,” Illinois commit Jack Swartz said. “I think this is one of the best classes to come out of U-High. All these guys every day push each other. I mean, what better teammates can you have than the ones that are the best.”

“It’s really cool. All of our guys, like I said, we’ve worked so hard and it’s just like, everybody getting to accomplish something and go on to bigger things, it’s really cool.”

At Normal Community, four athletes signed letters of intent. Lindsey DeRoeck is set to play softball at Queens University of Charlotte. Laynee Shceck signed to play lacrosse at Seton Hill University. Izzy McCormick will play Division I volleyball at the University of North Dakota and basketball start Zach Cleveland is set to take his talents to play at Liberty University.

“Obviously it’s a dream come true, ever since I was a kid to play big-time basketball,” Zach Cleveland said. “Then also with the three other ladies, it’s really cool to represent Normal Community in this way.”

Heart of Illinois ABC can be reached at [email protected].

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