Mentor senior Lyla Willis added two more collegiate opportunities in a single day, continuing to build an impressive recruiting résumé as she prepares for her final year of high school athletics.
Willis recently received a basketball offer from Heidelberg University and later picked up a soccer offer from Hiram College. The new offers bring her total to four, as she now holds basketball offers from Heidelberg and Hiram, along with soccer offers from Hiram and Muskingum.
For Willis, Heidelberg’s approach during the recruiting process immediately stood out.
“One thing that stood out to me about Heidelberg University is how open and honest Coach (Jon) Gin was,” Willis said. “On my visit, he explained exactly what my role would be and how I would fit into the program. It was very reassuring knowing where Coach Gin sees me and to have a better understanding of what my future would look like as a collegiate athlete.”
The recruiting process has been a team effort, but Willis has also taken an active role in creating opportunities for herself.
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She credits both her high school and club coaches for helping establish connections with college programs, while also reaching out to coaches directly to express interest and keep them updated on her schedule.
“One thing that helped me attract attention from college coaches is having connections with a lot of people,” Willis said. “My high school coaches and club coaches were a big help because they reached out to college coaches and expressed my interest. Another way that helped me attract college coaches is by reaching out to them personally and expressing interest in their program, informing them of my upcoming schedule and tournaments.”
With multiple offers already secured, Willis enters her senior year with confidence, but not complacency.
“Going into my senior year with offers on the table does give me more confidence, but my game will not change,” Willis said. “I am not going to settle just because I already have offers. I’m still going to play with intensity and give it everything I have because I want to leave high school with no regrets.”
That attitude has helped make Willis a leader within the Mentor program. As a returning captain, she hopes to set the standard for her teammates and help guide the Cardinals toward another successful season.
“As a returning captain, I want to set an example for my teammates to follow,” Willis said. “I want to set the tone that by working hard and playing together, we can achieve all of our goals.”
While she would welcome personal milestones along the way, Willis says team success remains her primary focus.
“From an individual standpoint, it would be nice to set personal highs in each category,” she said. “However, my focus is to help this team win as many games as possible and achieve our goals.”
When her time at Mentor eventually comes to an end, Willis hopes she leaves behind a legacy defined by hard work, competitiveness, and a commitment to team success.
“When I leave high school, I want people to remember me as a competitor that played the game the right way,” Willis said. “I want people to see me as someone who worked extremely hard to improve my individual skills and did whatever coaches asked to help the team have success.”
Whether her future ultimately leads her to the basketball court or soccer field at the collegiate level, Willis has already proven herself as one of the area’s top multi-sport athletes. With four offers on the table and a senior season still ahead, she’s determined to make the most of every opportunity that comes her way.
