4 LW-West Students Sign to Play Sports in College

The life of a student-athlete is busy, and down time is hard to find. With school work and sports, student clubs and a social life, dedicating the time to get noticed by college recruiters is an additional stress.

But on Nov. 15, recognized four seniors who made it work and will continue to play sports in college.

One was Kaitlyn Neiheisel, a diving and track star who will keep playing both sports at Illinois State next year. The lifelong gymnast gave up that sport as she entered high school, opting to do track her freshman year. Then she was looking to add a fall sport and found a niche in diving. When it came time to think about college, she had interest in both.

She used a recruitment website and set up two profiles: one for diving and one for pole vaulting. It worked as she got recruited separately by Illinois State's track and diving coaches.

"Both of them contacted me without knowing I was talking to the other coach," Neihesel said.

She made two All-Conference teams for the pole vault and went to the state track meet last year. She's headed to state this weekend for the diving competition, too.

"She's really shown that hard work pays off," diving coach Kristen Anderson said of Neiheisel, who plans to major in nursing. 

Three more athletes were honored Tuesday:

Myranda Eckberg, softball

• College: St. Joseph College
  
• Major: Political science and criminology
• She says: "It was fun making new traditions here."
• Coach says: "She's a very special player to me. She's been with us since day one back at Central." — Heather Novak

Lauren Wojdyla, softball

• College: Benedictine University
  
• Major: Psychology
• She says: In addition to sports accomplishments, she's most proud of being in the National Honor Society. "Being a student-athlete, there's two parts to it."
• Coach says: "She's one of the best bats in the lineup and has continued to get better ... we expect a lot from her this season." — Novak

John Hayes, baseball

• College: North Park University
  
• Major: Economics
• He says: "It feels like a rush to sign because I've taken all my time and put it in baseball."
• Coach says: "We always talk to the young athletes and tell them to set goals. He set those goals ... and to see him up here today, it says a lot about his character." — Jake Zajc