CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Illinois softball program and head coach Tyra Perry announced the addition of graduate transfer Lakyn Wagoner to the 2020-21 roster on Tuesday (May 19). Wagoner, a 5-9 outfielder from Havana, Ill., comes to Illinois following a very successful career at the University of Illinois Springfield, an NCAA Division II institution. Wagoner will join the Orange and Blue in the fall of 2020.
Laykn Wagoner // Havana, Ill. // Illinois Springfield // Sacred Heart Griffin // Outfield // L/R // 5-9
At UIS: 2020 CoSIDA Academic All-District team ... Earned multiple honors as a sophomore in 2018 including D2CCA First-Team All-Region, NFCA Second-Team All-Region and First-Team All-GLVC ... Received a redshirt year in 2019 … Two-time GLVC Academic All-Conference Team honoree ... Leaves UIS as the program's all-time leader in batting average (.375), slugging percentage (.619), doubles (35), triples (15), and total bases (279), while also collecting 169 hits, 99 runs, 15 homers, 102 RBI, 52 stolen bases, and a .414 on-base percentage ... Ranked ninth in NCAA Division II in 2020 with 1.44 RBI per game, and was third with 1.13 stolen bases per contest, while batting .467 with a .844 slugging percentage and recording 21 hits, 18 runs, 23 RBI, four doubles, two triples, three homers, and 18 stolen bases in just 16 games ... Helped lead UIS to one GLVC Championship, two NCAA Regional finals appearances and one NCAA Super Regional appearance during her career.
High School: An all-state selection as a junior at Havana High School … earned second-team honors … earned all-conference and all-area honors as a sophomore and junior … as a senior, earned honorable mention all-conference honors after transferring to Sacred Heart-Griffin … as a senior, hit .404 with 49 runs and 24 RBI, and was among the league leaders with 25 stolen bases … also lettered in cross country and basketball.
Why Illinois?
"As a graduate transfer, I was looking for a school with excellent academics as well as athletics. The University of Illinois is a great combination of both. It will allow me to compete against the best opponents on the field and challenge me academically. The University of Illinois is my dream school, and I look forward to representing both my school and my state."
Coach Perry on Wagoner
"We are very excited that Lakyn has decided to continue athletic career here at the University of Illinois. She is a great student and a clutch hitter that will add instant firepower to our lineup."
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