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Danville Area Community College Athletics

recruiting local

Baseball

Local Kids Adding Talent to Jaguar Athletics

Athletes joining multiple teams this coming season

Jaydah Arrowsmith playing in the 2023 Vermilion County Tournament
DANVILLE, IL - Gaining and growing talent in college sports is a tough job to do. It's a job that all coaches and staff in the athletic department tackle throughout the entire school year. It's important for coaches to be on the lookout for athletes who they believe are the right fit for their team, and will also help them compete at the next level. There have been plenty of athletes who have competed for Danville Area Community College athletics who are not from the area, some not even from the United States. While those athletes have made many impacts at DACC, there is also something to be said for the local athletes who get recruited to compete as a Jaguar.

For this upcoming 2024-25 school year, many student-athletes from the surrounding counties will be attending DACC. The reinstated volleyball program will see a lot of local talent playing in the fall. A few from Vermilion County high schools, and another handful from Champaign County high schools. The baseball team will also see a similar situation with their team this year, as head coach Clayton Hicks has recruited plenty of locals to come play DACC baseball. Head coach for the softball team, Matt Cervantes, is always eager to put his team together and to begin working with the group in order to prepare them for the tough spring season they play. This year, Cervantes is bringing in two new recruits from Vermilion County. 

"This year we have Kailey Frischkorn (Salt Fork High School) and Ella Myers (Bismarck-Henning Rossville-Alvin High School) who are from Vermilion County and will be in our softball program. They are wonderful kids with fantastic families who love our program and represent the community in a positive manner," Cervantes said. He firmly believes that bringing in the best local talent from the county is huge for community engagement and the softball program. With all the camps and community involvement the softball team does, the Jaguar softball players act as local celebrities to the younger softball players in the community, which only helps grow the sport and talent in softball, making it a win-win situation. 

Matt believes his two VC recruits will be able to make big strides on his team.

"They are both talented athletes and can serve multiple roles. Whether it is being on the softball field or in the classroom, they perform to the best of their capabilities every time," says Cervantes. "They serve as mentors to the local group of softball talent and advocate for the college in one of the best ways possible." 

The women's basketball team is another program who is going to see some familiar faces come November. Marleigh Schmit (Bismarck-Henning Rossville-Alvin High School), Addie Seggebruch (St. Joseph-Ogden High School), Addie Wright (Oakwood High School), and Jaydah Arrowsmith (Oakwood High School) will all be attending DACC this year. Addie Wright graduated from OHS in 2023, and committed to Quincy University to start her collegiate career in the fall of 2023. After consideration and discussion with head coach Kyle Bent, Wright has decided to come back home to play for the 2024-25 season. Coach Bent sees lots of benefits for recruiting locally.

"Local athletes usually arrive with a higher level of comfortability for the town and the DACC campus - making their transition into collegiate athletics a little smoother," Bent said. "Their proximity to the college gives them more face-to-face opportunities with the coaches and their future teammates which can help to narrow the learning curve associated with concepts and schemes. Local talent brings local fans. It creates an exciting environment for competition."

 It makes a huge difference for a player when they're close to home and can have their family support at the snap of their fingertips. Students are able to build off of the community they already have here, and they feel more connected to a place they're already familiar with. Schmit, Wright, and Arrowsmith all played in the Mary Miller Gymnasium for the Vermilion County Basketball Tournaments in 2023 and 2024. Coach Bent got a first row seat to see the players in action and how they would impact the Jaguar program.

"I foresee all four players competing for playing time right out of the gate," Bent said. "Their work ethics and toughness are attributes my staff and I look for in potential student-athletes. Needless to say, this group wholeheartedly embodies those characteristics." 

The local talent across all sports in the DACC athletic department will definitely be something to watch. It is hopeful that with recruiting locally, younger generations in surrounding areas will be inspired to continue participating in sports and see that they compete at the collegiate level close to home. It's safe to say there isn't just one benefit in recruiting local, but plenty of benefits that will help make big impacts across the board. 
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Players Mentioned

Kailey Frischkorn

#2 Kailey Frischkorn

OF
5' 5"
Freshman

Players Mentioned

Kailey Frischkorn

#2 Kailey Frischkorn

5' 5"
Freshman
OF