Four Republic athletes have committed to play college sports. Clara Fronabarger has signed with William Jewell College to play soccer. Sedalia Shumaker will play tennis at the University of the Ozarks. Vincent Pyeatt will take his baseball skills to William Woods, and Kyle Hill has signed to play baseball at North Arkansas Community College.
Clara Fronabarger – William Jewell
Clara Fronabarger went 18 months without playing in a soccer game, sidelined by two knee surgeries. Despite that setback, she has committed to play college soccer at William Jewell College.
“The injuries put a dent” in the college search, Fronabarger said. “It was hard to get current film and hard to email coaches when you can’t play and they can’t see you.”
Last fall, as Fronabarger returned to the field with her club soccer team, Republic golf and baseball coach Curt Plotner, who attended William Jewell, put in a good word for Fronabarger at his alma mater – and also encouraged Fronabarger to consider attending there.
“I sent (William Jewell Coach Cory Herchenroeder) film, and he just really liked it and liked me. And we got to talking back and forth, and I took a visit up there and fell in love with the school and the campus and him as a coach, too. So it felt like a perfect fit.”
Sedalia Shumaker – University of the Ozarks
Two years ago, Sedalia Shumaker had never even played competitive tennis. She had no thought of playing at any level past high school. Now she’s committed to play college tennis at University of the Ozarks in Clarksville, Arkansas.
“I started out playing just for fun,” she said. “I started a recruiting profile just out of nowhere. I thought, ‘We might as well look,’ and then I started getting coaches asking about my stats and stuff. That’s when I started getting serious about looking into college tennis.”
Shumaker said she “fell in love” with the university during a visit. “It has a really beautiful campus and the class sizes are smaller, so you have more of the student-to-teacher interaction,” she said. I”m nervous (about playing college tennis), but I’m looking forward to it. I think it’s going to be a great experience.”
Vincent Pyeatt – William Woods University
For Vincent Pyeatt, his decision to attend William Woods University came down to baseball coach Chris Fletcher.
“He’s what stood out to me. He’s a great coach. He really caed about me, he cared about what was going on in my life and how I was dealing with it, with William Woods and the whole decision,” Pyeatt said. “My dad loved Coach Fletcher, as well, and we both love the school, love the team, and loved the spirit.”
Pyeatt said more than anything, he’s looking forward most to the camaraderie of college baseball – “the community with the team. I think we’re going to have a lot of fun. I think we’re going to have a lot of team chemistry and it’s going to be almost like high school baseball again.”
Kyle Hill – North Arkansas College
Kyle Hill learned about North Arkansas College from an assistant coach on his travel baseball team.
“We got a really good bond, then he went back after summer to Coach (Eric) Osner, who’s the head coach, and told them about me. Then fall came around and we played there, they talked to me a little bit and said I should come down for a visit,” Hill said.
Hill said it’s a “big relief” to have his college decision out of the way. “I feel like I can kind of relax. I’ve still got to work hard, but I feel like looking for colleges is done, so it’s nice not to have to worry about that.”
Hill said he’s most looking forward to being “on my own and playing big boy baseball. I’ve worked so long, my parents have done so much for me to be here, and I’m excited to do it now.”