Bryce Baxa, a junior from Yorkville, faces an interesting decision over the next year. He must choose whether to pursue baseball or football at the next level. Despite the challenge, he views it as a good problem. ‘It’s too early to say right now,’ Baxa stated, dividing his time between varsity football workouts for the Yorkville Foxes and travel baseball tournaments with Team Elite in North Aurora.
Recently, Yorkville coach Dan McGuire organized a game of water balloon dodgeball for the players, including Baxa, which lightened the mood on the last day of camp. However, thoughts quickly turned to Baxa’s future. ‘I think they’ll probably wait for his film from this season,’ McGuire commented on college recruiters interested in Baxa. ‘Baseball or football? He’s good enough to do either one. And I think he’s definitely Division I in football.’
Baxa showcased his skills in a recent Southwest Prairie Conference game, fielding a grounder and throwing to first base for an out, a testament to his baseball talents. This year, he also received all-conference recognition as a defensive tackle.
Standing 6-foot-2 and weighing 225 pounds, Baxa’s primary position in baseball is catcher, though he also pitches and bats as a designated hitter. Reflecting on his varsity promotions, Baxa noted, ‘In football, our offensive line was a strong, veteran group, and practicing against them daily improved my skills tremendously.’
In baseball, he adapted to facing high-speed pitches earlier in his career. ‘We train by setting up the machine to simulate 95 to 105 mph pitches, helping us get used to the speed,’ he explained.
Last season in football, Baxa and his teammate James Sapp Jr. significantly impacted the defensive line, recording 47 and 48 tackles, respectively. They helped Yorkville achieve a 7-3 record. ‘Our defensive line was a strength,’ McGuire mentioned. ‘Despite their youth, they kept us in many games.’
Baxa also has notable skills as a linebacker and later transitioned to defensive tackle, showing versatility. He aims to bulk up for the position, saying, ‘I believed I would need to compete against tough opponents, so I focused on getting as big as possible.’ His dedication led to a potential move to defensive end this season.
His older brother, Blake Baxa, played a significant role in his development. ‘In seventh grade, my brother invited me to lift weights, and assistant coach Chris Galloway approved, which boosted my strength early on,’ Baxa recalled. By the end of eighth grade, his bench press reached 275 pounds.
Baxa cherishes the opportunity to play college sports, driven by his parents’ and coaches’ support. ‘To play in college would mean a lot to me, to do it for my parents and coaches, who went the extra mile,’ he expressed.
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