GLEN CARBON - Issac Wendler, who was a key part of Father McGivney Catholic's run to the IHSA Class 1A baseball state championship game last season, has signed a letter of intent to play baseball for the University of Illinois-Springfield.
Wendler will be joining teammate Ben Sink as a member of the Prairie Stars in the spring of 2027, and the two are expected to do well at UIS.
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Wendler is a Byron, Carlson, Petri & Kalb Male Athlete of the Month for the Griffins.
He's a good all-around baseball player for the Griffins, last season hitting .402 with five home runs and 44 RBIs, drawing 20 walks and striking out 21 times. He's also a very good pitcher, who last year in eight starts on the mound, completed three games had had a record of 6-1 with an ERA of 1.91, allowing only 16 hits and 21 walks while fanning 57 batters and not allowing an extra-base hit all season.
In his post-ceremony interview, Wendler was attracted to UIS because of its closeness to his home and the success of the baseball team in the past.
"I'd say that they've been good the past couple of years," Wendler said, "my friend's (Sink) going there, and it's close to home. I think it'll be a good fit. I like the coach (Chris Rodriguez) there. I like the campus there. I think I'll have a good time there."
The campus atmosphere appealed to Wendler very much so.
"Yes, it was," Wendler said. "it was a really nice campus, I really liked the place."
Wendler also considered a pair of junior colleges, along with different NCAA Division-II schools, but felt Springfield was the best fit. He's currently undecided on his major as of now, and has yet to make plans for after graduation. Wendler's favorite memory of playing for the Griffins and coach Chris Erwin was the trip to the state finals at Champaign-Urbana last season.
Wendler is indeed looking ahead to the 2026 season, and thinks the Griffins can contend in Class 2A, to which the school was promoted to by the IHSA.
"I think we've got a good shot at going into this year," Wendler said. "We've been putting in the work already in the off-season, and I think it'll be a good year."
