Antioch junior shortstop Claire Schuyler checked a lot of boxes on Wednesday afternoon.
Above all, perhaps, Schuyler’s commitment to Minnesota is a weight off her shoulders.
“It’s definitely a relief,” she said. “I don’t have to worry about where I’m going to play. It will be like when I was 10 years old again. There’s no stress, and I can just play and have fun and not worry about who I have to impress or how I play.
“I’m excited to get on the field and be myself.”
Schuyler recorded a .964 fielding percentage and hit .340 with 12 doubles, seven triples, seven home runs, 12 stolen bases and 75 RBIs last season as Antioch won the Class 3A runner-up trophy for the second year in a row. Playing at Minnesota, she would join her brother TJ, a sophomore catcher at Indiana, in the Big Ten.
“There’s definitely a really big competition between us, like who is going where,” Claire Schuyler said. “We always try and one-up each other. But he’s ecstatic for me and so proud. It’s kind of crazy to be two siblings going Division I. We’re both very blessed and honored to experience that.”
TJ Schuyler agreed that it’s unique.
“While I wish it would’ve been Indiana, we all live our own lives and have our own journeys,” he said. “I’m very proud of her, just knowing all the work and passion she’s put in. It’s very cool to have a sibling who’s also going to play Division I ball.”
The Schuylers’ parents, Doug and Gina, also played sports in college. Doug Schuyler played football at Wisconsin-Whitewater, and Gina Schuyler played softball at St. Norbert.
Gina Schuyler said she’s not shocked to see both kids go to the next level.
“My husband lined our backyard with a mock softball and baseball field since she was young,” Gina Schuyler said. “Family trips were to the Field of Dreams.”
Claire Schuyler would also become the third consecutive Antioch shortstop to play in Division I and the fourth Antioch softball player to join a Big Ten program since 2022.
Piper Foote (Western Illinois) and Gabby Debevec (Illinois) preceded Schuyler at short. Schuyler succeeded Debevec as a freshman.
“I was definitely aware of the shortstop (history),” Schuyler said. “It’s cool to be able to take up that role and to keep it going. My freshman year, I felt that pressure. But my sophomore year, I just let loose and had fun.”
Antioch coach Anthony Rocco said Schuyler is a different player than his previous two shortstops. She made an immediate impact on the varsity team as a freshman.
“Once Gabby left, Claire just stepped in the role,” Rocco said. “She plays lockdown defense. She makes those great plays for us.
“She’s a middle-of-the-order type of hitter with a big-stick home run bat with extra-base power. She’s also got excellent speed on the base paths and can turn a walk or single into a couple of bases for us. She’s only going to grow and get better and expand her game and become better offensively.”
Schuyler would join Debevec, Eden Echevarria (Wisconsin) and Jacey Schuler (Michigan State) in the Big Ten, and Schuyler is the ninth Antioch softball player to commit to a Division I program since 2017.
“It’s a great reflection of the program and type of kids we have and the community we have behind it in terms of commitment and hard work,” Rocco said. “We have that excitement where the younger kids are seeing success of the previous kids and want to be a part of it and join the program.”
Bobby Narang is a freelance reporter.
