Embrace the pig.
That’s just what Yorkville’s softball players have done during this historic season.
From an early trip to a tournament in Gulf Shores, Alabama, to this weekend’s capper in Peoria for the program’s first appearance in the state finals, senior right fielder Katlyn Schraeder
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and her teammates have been joined by their mascot — Wilbur the rally pig.He was with them again Monday in Bloomington as the players lined up for a photo to commemorate a 2-0 victory over Bradley-Bourbonnais in the Class 4A Illinois Wesleyan Supersectional.
Front and center was reserved for the plaque, held by senior pitcher Madi Reeves, a Miami of Ohio recruit.
Wilbur, a small sculpture assistant coach Megan Leadbetter found at her family’s home, was within an arm’s reach of the plaque in front of the girls kneeling in the front row.
“Coach Leadbetter teaches art and Madi was in her class,” Schraeder said, offering up some back story. “Madi painted Wilbur for a project in the class.”
The phrase “Earn Your Way” is emblazoned on one side. “Foxes Groovy” is on the other. The pig also sports a gold chain around his neck and three stripes of “eye black” in team colors of red, white and black.
In a tight game, players look to Wilbur or pat him, hoping to start a rally.
“After anyone hits a home run,” Schraeder said, “somebody makes sure Wilbur is out there with us to greet them and celebrate at home plate.”
The Foxes (35-2) hope to continue that celebration at 3 p.m. Friday in a Class 4A state semifinal against Oak Park-River Forest (30-7). The 5:30 p.m. semifinal between Marist (35-2) and Barrington (35-5) is a rematch from last spring at the Louisville Slugger Sports Complex in Peoria.
Wilbur is emblematic of the culture coach Jory Regnier and her staff — Leadbetter, JV coach Kate Mollohan, freshman coach Corrine Rowe and assistant David Franz — have built in her nine years leading the program, compiling a 166-94 record in eight seasons.
Eight seniors on this year’s roster lost the 2020 season, which was canceled due to the pandemic when they were freshmen.
At the core of that culture is an offseason program that starts with weightlifting and conditioning, overseen by Jason Schmitt and Ryan Chatman, that goes three days a week for players not involved in another sport.
“I don’t think (lifting) was anything we did a lot of when I was in high school,” Regnier said of her playing days at Richmond-Burton, followed by St. Xavier. “By the time I became a college athlete, it was a bigger part of what we did.”
In season, the coaches select four general managers — Reeves and fellow seniors Kaitlyn Roberts and Sam Davidowski and junior Jensen Krantz were GMs this year — who then draft their teams from all levels of the program.
Work in the weight room and drills in practices become competitions that are scored as players compete all season for a prize.
“Madi is really dedicated and really pushes kids,” said Schraeder, a Millikin recruit. “Her team won this year. She’s a true leader, in and out of the weight room.”
Senior shortstop Sara Ebner said the voluntary offseason workouts allowed her to connect with younger players.
“It definitely keeps people accountable,” said Ebner, a Green Bay recruit.
“There was no drama at all this year,” Schraeder said.
Offseason workouts are voluntary, but teammates encourage each other to take part to help build a winning culture. Regnier speaks often of her players’ strength as a team strength.
“I was nervous that first year because we share the room with football, and those varsity guys were big and strong,” Ebner said. “Once you got through the first week, though, it was fun.”
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Initially, Schraeder said it was “kind of intimidating since I didn’t know how to lift.”
Schraeder, Reeves and Ebner also have memberships at area gyms for more work on their own.
“Madi and I go to the same place,” Schraeder said. “She would throw batting practice to me.”
Ebner said “movement training” has helped her hitting by improving her rotation.
“I think weight training, in general, is good,” Ebner said. “At my facility, we even have dancers who lift.”
There are other facets to the Foxes’ culture.
“We definitely have a lot of props,” Ebner said.
That includes a team flag that’s attached to a spirit stick and decorated by the players and charts in the dugout featuring stickers to highlight individual accomplishments similar to the helmet stickers some college football programs feature.
There’s also a new team motto every season.
“All gas no brakes” is pretty self-explanatory for a determined, pedal-to-the-metal group.
And then, there’s Wilbur.
With the program’s first state trophy ready to be taken this weekend, it’s safe to say the Foxes are looking to bring home the bacon.