Two Wylie baseball players and a golfer signed Division I letters of intent on Tuesday afternoon at the Wylie Performing Arts Center while two other baseball players also signed.
Brooks Gay and Landon Williams will play Division I baseball at the next level, at ACU and Louisiana-Lafayette while Karson Grigsby (ACU) is set to play golf at NCAA’s top level, too. JT Thompson (Lubbock Christian) and Garrett Graham (Midland College) signed Division II and junior college letters, respectively.
“It’s cool getting to sign with these guys I’ve played with since I was 8-years old,” Williams said. “Getting to see those guys sign last year, it was cool knowing I had this day coming. It was a great day.”
The continued success of the Wylie baseball team, the development of players and their ability to compete at the next level has a lot to do with the players. But it also has a lot to do with head coach Grant Martin.
“It’s a lot of hard work,” Gay said. “I think it also says something about Coach Martin. A lot of people can be really talented and not want to play at the next level because they have a bad coach or some bad teammates. But the past four years I’ve been on the varsity team, everybody loves everybody. We get along real well … and everyone wants to play hard for Coach Martin because he’s a great dude, a great coach. I wouldn’t want to play for anyone else.”
Baseball continues next-level success
Last year, the Wylie baseball team sent over a dozen players to the next level. This year, they got started with four players signing together. It says a lot about a program that continues to deliver players to play in college.
“With it being official, it’s all relief,” Williams said. “It’s a blessing, for sure. Whenever I committed, some stress came off my shoulders, but nothing’s official until signing. So, finally signed and I’m ready to do great this season and then head to Louisiana.”
Williams committed to ULL in Oct. 2020.
“Louisiana, especially Lafayette, it’s the size of Abilene and everybody there is super hospitable,” Williams said. “Such a great experience whenever I was there and somewhere I want to spend four years at.”
Williams joins a long line of Division I catchers from Wylie. The coaches and his teammates put a lot of faith in Williams and he has rewarded them with success on the field.
“For us, him being able to control the game, we allow him to call his own pitches,” Martin said. “… His leadership on the field, off the field, his ability to have a positive outlook and have fun playing this game is the thing that I’m most proud of. Two, it’s all work with him. He puts in the time and effort and his success is a direct correlation to the time he’s put in.”
Gay’s commitment to ACU was more recent. At the end of the 2021 season, Gay felt like the summer was when his recruiting would pick up and hoped to have a commitment and sign before the season.
“There’s, obviously in the recruiting process, a lot of stresses,” Gay said. “It can be a lot. There’s not knowing where you’re going to go and trying to figure that out is stressful. It takes a lot of stress off when you make that decision and choose where you’re going to be. Now that I made it official, it’s awesome.”
That happened with the opportunity to play close to home and for a program that has made strides under coach Rick McCarty.
“Staying in town is awesome, my brother’s a freshman so I’ll get to see him play some baseball, football or whatever else,” Gay said. “I love Abilene, it’s always felt like home. I’ve been on campus and watched them play. … The coaches there are amazing, I love those guys. Coach McCarty and Coach (Blaze) Lambert, I’ve gotten to know them pretty well. I’m excited to be a part of what’s coming. They’re on the rise, on the come-up and I’m excited to be a part of that journey.”
The success Gay has had in a Wylie uniform and the opportunity to play at the highest level in college is no surprise to Martin who has watched him grow as a player and a person over the course of his high school career.
“I think his evolution, where he started and the things he’s done for our program is immense,” Martin said. “The things behind the scenes, too, the knowledge he has and how he extends that to some of our younger kids is just a tremendous benefit for us. What he’s achieved now, in his career, is all due to his hard work and determination.”
Thompson is the second LCU signee from Wylie in as many years as he joins Riley Hood in Lubbock. All he had to do was look out and see the support from everyone during his time as a Bulldog.
“It’s a big deal to everybody, it’s a great day, a great environment,” Thompson said of signing. “A lot of people here showing support. I appreciate everybody and what they’ve done for me.”
The patch to becoming a Chaparral was one built on hard work for Thompson who knew what he wanted and went after it.
“It started at showcase camps, getting my name out there,” Thompson said. “I had an OK junior season, kind of put my name out there even more. Kept working, kept going to their workouts and it unfolded from there.”
Thompson leads with his defense as Wylie’s second baseman. It’s where LCU sees him, too, in the middle of the infield and a utility player.
“With JT, if you watch him field a ground ball, any of us can attest to this, he’s about as smooth as they come,” Martin said. “Again, he’s got a great opportunity to go someplace I think he feels really comfortable and we’re glad we have him this year.”
Graham, who was a force on the Wylie football team’s defense, is turning his focus to his first-love, baseball.
“I think I’m better at baseball than I am at football,” Graham said. “… I felt like baseball’s the way to go for me. My dad played college baseball and I grew up around baseball and that’s what I’ve always wanted to do.”
Midland College is a place for him to develop as a baseball player while getting an education.
“Going to the next level is a big deal,” Graham said. “You’ve got to keep working hard the rest of high school, obviously, but it’s good to know you’re secured at the next level. I’m going to keep on working hard trying to reach my goal. … They offered me a full ride, so I’ve got to go there. It’s junior college, so I’ll go there for two years and hopefully I transfer to a DI, but they’re paying for my school.”
With focus on baseball, there is the opportunity for Graham to unlock his full potential and go from being a really good player to a great player. That’s something he’s capable of while in Midland.
“Great coaching staff and it will be a great fit for Garrett,” Martin said. “He’s a guy that loves baseball. He’ll work really hard at it. He’s one of those guys that played multiple sports in high school, so it will be nice to see him flourish in this opportunity. We’re happy for him and the opportunity that’s in front of him.”
Martin is the first to note the success of the Wylie baseball program did not start with him. But he has continued the success and development of players who are capable of playing at the next level.
But, there is still work to be done as Bulldogs first.
“Each one of these guys, they have their futures ahead, but they’re very much so still a Wylie Bulldog,” Martin said. “Their dreams and hopes sit right here with us right now. I don’t have to ask them that, I know that about them. … We’re happy about our program and where it’s headed and where it’s come from.”
The players know that, too. They also know there are some big shoes to fill, but the four signees are ready to step into leadership roles and help Wylie continue its success on the diamond.
“It’s going to be tough, losing 13, 14 seniors,” Thompson said. “There’s going to be a bunch of gaps to fill. I think the juniors will step up into that role and just play Wylie baseball.”
Grigsby excited about opportunity at ACU
Grigsby was originally committed to Oklahoma, but flipped shortly after this past spring’s state tournament. He signed with ACU and wants to be a part of bringing the program to the next level.
“It was a lot of prayer and a lot of talking to people who are 10-times wiser than I ever could be,” Grigsby said. “I love OU and I love what they’re doing and what their program is about there, but I just feel like ACU has something special and I really wanted to be a part of it. Coach (Tom) Shaw has done an amazing job building up the program.”
The signing was the culmination of a lot of work over his lifetime, and being one step closer to being a collegiate golfer made the day that much more special.
“It’s super sweet, dreams that I’ve been dreaming since I was going to the golf course at 5 years old,” Grigsby said. “I was in kindergarten saying, ‘I want to play college golf.’ To see that dream come to fruition is super sweet, to put pen to paper on it and make it final. I’m excited to go to ACU and rewrite history there.”
While Grigsby hasn’t been at Wylie long, transferring as a junior, he has made an immediate impact that will continue into the spring.
“He’s been a tremendous asset to our golf program,” Wylie coach Mike Campbell said. “Over the course of two years, he’s won six tournaments, including district and regionals last year and playing in the state tournament. Just been a really good role model for the other players and a solid person to have on the team.
“… Really proud of him. He’s going to get to go play at Abilene Christian University, which is a very special place for me. I spent two years there as a player and 11 years there as a coach. Looking forward to following (him) there. Just remember, we’ve got more to accomplish in the spring before we get there.”
He knows he is still a Wylie Bulldog and there is one medal missing after winning the district and region titles last year — a state championship.
“Like Coach Campbell said, we’ve still got some unfinished work to do,” Grigsby said. “I’m still looking for a state title, so that’s ultimately the goal this year, to chase that down and go after that. Win district, win regionals and get three trophies to end out the year. I’m excited for the spring and what’s to come.
Jordan Hofeditz covers Abilene high schools and colleges, Big Country schools and other local sports. Follow him on Twitter at @jhofeditz. If you appreciate locally driven news, you can support local journalists with a digital subscription to ReporterNews.com.
