Trio makes up WIU women’s basketball signing class
MACOMB, Ill. - Signing day is always a special occasion for high school student-athletes, and, for Western Illinois women's basketball, the program just became better with the finalization of its Class of 2022 commits.
Three guards have dotted the paper to join the Leathernecks -- Addi Brownfield, Allie Meadows, and Lily Randgaard. All three hail from the Midwest while bringing special traits to Western, both on and off the hardwood.
Addi Brownfield | 5-9 | Guard | Boonville, Mo. | Boonville High School
Brownfield has enjoyed a stellar career at Boonville High, where she has played on the varsity squad every year since entering high school. A multi-year selection in all-state, all-conference, and all-district, she reached over 1,000 points during her junior year and led the Pirates in three-point and free throw percentages. Brownfield was also part of Boonville's first-ever state championship in program history. In the classroom, the 5'9" guard has excelled her way to attaining honors such as academic all-state and principal's honor roll while carrying a 4.0 GPA.
Why she chose Western: "I chose Western for many reasons. Coach Gravina and the entire coaching staff are great people, and I am so excited to play for them. The women's basketball program plays with a style that I love and can see myself fitting into. The team, the town, and the entire atmosphere at Western made this an easy choice for me."
Coach Gravina's thoughts: "Addi is a player we have been watching since she was young. She is just a perfect fit for our system. Although she can play point guard, she is more of a do-everything combo guard player in our system. She is athletic and a really good shooter who can attack, score, and pass as well as anyone. She played on the EYBL level with the Missouri Phenom and won a state title with Boonville HS, which both give her great experiences to draw from and make the transition to college ball smoothly."
Allie Meadows | 5-8 | Guard | DeWitt, Iowa | DeWitt High School
Another future Leatherneck with combo guard skills, Meadows comes from Iowa. She has been a varsity standout for the past three seasons. Defense has been one of her most impressive assets, as the 5'8" guard earned Defensive Player of the Year honors this past season, along with nods on all-state, all-region, all-district, and all-conference lists for all three campaigns. Meadows has also been a team captain every year she has played at DeWitt. She comes from an athletic family -- parents Jodi and Mike played basketball and football at Indiana State. Outside of basketball, Meadows can be found playing volleyball and competing as a sprinter in track.
Why she chose Western: "The team and the coaching staff are truly unbelievable ,and I felt a home vibe during my visits. Western is just under two hours from my hometown, and having my friends and family come to support me and be a part of my college experience is really important to me."
Coach Gravina's thoughts: "Allie is a true point guard and a ball of energy. She really pushes the ball well in the open court, can shoot from deep, and makes those great, simple passes that are so effective in our system. She is always playing with her head up. She's quick, can get to the basket, and finish or shoot a floater. She is just a winner and a natural leader. We are excited to have such a good person and student joining our team."
Lily Randgaard | 5-10 | Guard | Oconomowoc, Wis. | Kettle Moraine High School
Randgaard brings good size at the guard spot position to WIU and discipline both in and out of basketball. An all-conference guard for the Kettle Moraine Lasers, she has also impressed in standing as an honor roll student part of the DECA school club and a recipient of the Dick Ohm Merit Award. Like Meadows, athleticism is in Randgaard's blood -- she is related to Olympic hockey gold medalist Phil Verchota and former NFL linebacker Caleb Miller. One can additionally find her playing soccer as a goalkeeper.
Why she chose Western: "I chose Western Illinois because I liked the coaching staff and style of play. There has also been plenty of success with other girls from the Wisconsin Lakers like Grace Gilmore (2021 alum), Alissa Dins (current junior), and Taylor Higginbotham (2019 alum).
Coach Gravina's thoughts: "Lily is an extremely well-rounded guard. She played for the Wisconsin Lakers and it just seems like recruits who come from their program fit into our system well and thrive at WIU. She can shoot, handle the ball, has good length, and is fast. She is one of those players who will play any role you ask of her, and makes everyone around her better. She has a nice calm energy about her and is a great kid."
This article originally appeared on The McDonough County Voice: wiu women hoops
