Blake Hultgren '21 Recruiting Profile

During my freshman year, I was given the opportunity to start at second base for my varsity team for 7 games which allowed me to grow as an athlete and prove myself to my coaches. Since my sophomore year started I have been a full-time starter for Willard High School. I have been playing second base and will be moving to shortstop for my senior season. In my sophomore year, we finished 3rd in the state for class five and as a junior, we were pre-season ranked 40th in the nation and number one in the state of Missouri but unfortunately lost the season to Covid. This past year, I would have been the only junior to start with a group of very talented seniors filling up the rest of the field. We were like a family and they taught me how to be a good leader. Since I am the only returning starter, I plan to pick up the role as leader of the team which I am looking forward to very much so that I can make an impact on my new teammate's lives and help them become better athletes and better people.

In the fall of my sophomore year, the Willard baseball team and Willard Community lost an assistant coach and one of the best people I've ever known. He made such an inspiration on me and is part of the reason why I am the person I am today. He knew my potential and would push me to be the best that I could be. His legacy lives on in many people's lives and I strive to be more like he was as a person and baseball player.