Dekalb Eastern Schools Public Relations & Marketing
INformed, INvolved, and IN THE SPOTLIGHT
WHO: Cade Willard, 17, Senior;
Zach Orn, 18, Senior;
Jackson White, 18, Senior
WHAT: Signed to play collegiate baseball for the NCAA Division I Indiana Purdue Fort Wayne Mastodon’s (Cade Willard), Division I Valparaiso Crusaders (Zach Orn), and Division III Franklin College Grizzlies (Jackson White)
BIGGEST CHALLENGE: Cade Willard: "Balancing schoolwork (Business Management Major) with travel baseball days, and the level of competition at the collegiate level." Zach Orn: "Getting good grades (Law with Minor in Athletic Mng.) while still balancing playing D1 baseball." Jackson White: "Adjusting to the speed of a college academic curriculum (English with Minor in Writing) and the speed of a college baseball game."
LOOKING FORWARD TO: Cade Willard: "Traveling with the team to North & South Dakota." Zach Orn: "The Division 1 experience, in particular the team trip to Florida in the spring." Jackson White: "Being around new people in a new environment and learning new things."
NOW WHAT: Cade Willard: "Focus first on school and continue keeping up with the dream, which is playing baseball." Zach Orn: "Getting quicker, faster and stronger with the goal of making an impact as a freshman." Jackson White: "Doing the best academically and compete for a pitching spot."
WHY IPFW, VALPO, Franklin: Cade Willard: "Location is close to family and friends, couple other friends also playing baseball at IPFW." Zach Orn: "Went on a visit and it felt like home, not too close not too far. Also has great academics and really like the direction of the program." Jackson White: "Has the academic degrees wanted, likes the baseball and pitching development program."