3 May 2001
CONTACT: Stew Salowitz, 309.556.3206
and/or IWU softball coach Mandy Neal, 309.556.3348
 
 

Myers, Schuster Announce for IWU Softball

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. -- Softball standouts DesaRae Myers of Normal West High School and Colleen Schuster of Joliet West High School have decided to attend Illinois Wesleyan University to continue their academic and athletic careers, IWU softball coach Mandy Neal announced today.

DesaRae Myers

A three-time all-Big 12 Conference selection, Myers batted .298 with five doubles, four triples and a team-best 38 runs as a junior playing for a Wildcat team that advanced to the final eight of the IHSA state tournament.
"DesaRae is a versatile player with good fundamentals who comes from a solid high school program," said Neal. "She will get better as she continues to play here in college."
"Without question, DesaRae is the best high school catcher I have coached," said Normal West coach Lloyd Hulit. "She has all the physical skills the position requires, but what sets her apart is her intelligence. She understands how to call a game and knows how to handle pitchers. Our teams have enjoyed considerable success over the course of her career and this is due, in large measure, to what she brings to the field every day in practice and to every game she plays."
Myers batted .381 and led the team with 32 runs scored as a sophomore and she hit .363 as a freshman.
Selected to play in the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association all-star game, Myers has indicated she might also participate in basketball at IWU.
Myers, who plans to major in business at IWU, is a Big 12 scholar-athlete award winner and the recipient of an IHSA Scholastic Achievement Award. She is the daughter of Bill and Betsy Myers, 1607 W. Fairfield Ct., Normal.

Colleen Schuster

Schuster, a three-year starter at shortstop, batted .310 as a junior, playing for a team that won the state Class AA championship, and batted .353 as a sophomore, leading her team both seasons in extra-base hits.
"Colleen is a top-notch infielder and will have a chance to make an immediate impact next season as a college freshman," Neal said. "She is an extremely talented player both offensively and defensively."
As a junior, Schuster was named to the Class AA all-state tournament team, earned special mention on the Chicago Tribune all-state team, and was on the Joliet Herald all-area squad. She was chosen to the SICA West all-conference team as a sophomore and junior.
Schuster, who plans to major in a pre-law curriculum and political science at IWU, is the daughter of Joseph Burke Schuster and Patricia R. Dames-Schuster, 726 Cassie Dr., Joliet.

About Illinois Wesleyan Softball

As of May 3, Illinois Wesleyan has a 33-11 record. . . The Titans were 30-19 in 2000. . . Prior to this season, Mandy Neal had a 12-year record of 305-164 at the school with three NCAA Division III tournament appearances (1994, 1996 and 2000) and four College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin titles (1991, 1994, 1996, and 1997).