Arkansas trifecta: NSR prospect a 3-sport star

When a female high school athlete measures 6 feet, she normally receives attention from college coaches, regardless of which sport she plays. It’s a “big” deal, so to speak.  It’s an even “bigger” deal when she plays three sports.

Sydney Wader, a 2016 softball pitcher, volleyball middle and basketball post from Vilonia High School in Arkansas, measures 6-1.  She has received plenty of NCAA Division I offers, but not just because she’s tall.  Yes, that helped, but all the hoopla has been due to the fact she is an all-star in all three sports — All-State in softball and All-Conference in volleyball and basketball.

College softball coaches have been gaga over Sydney for a while. Her 63-mph fastball and pinpoint control have had coaches drooling since she entered high school and started playing high-level travel softball.  As she continued to advance up the ranks, her reputation grew.

Her high school benefited mightily. Last May when Sydney beat powerhouse Paragould in the 5A state championship, her legacy was firmly established in the state and region.  She finished the 2015 season with a sparkling 22-3 record, making her one of  Arkansas’ top pitching prospects.

Robbie Wilson, NSR’s National Softball Director and Arkansas Area Director, couldn’t say enough about Sydney.

“Sydney is a 6’1”, athletic pitcher who handles pressure situations and adversity better than most prospects in the circle I’ve seen,” Wilson wrote in his scouting report. “She throws 60-62 MPH on average.  I’ve clocked her at 66.   She knows how to work her pitches and has good command.  Sydney is a lead-by-action leader.  Her performances and presence demand respect.  She is well known across the state for being one of the best pitchers in Arkansas.  She pitched for Fresno Force last year in Boulder, Colo., as well.  Sydney is a fierce type of competitor on the field, but sweet and intelligent off the field.  Her pitching strategy seems to be to utilize her speed in addition to her movement and command of pitches.  She is very methodical and effective. A true competitor, Sydney likes the challenge that comes along with being pitcher.”

However, Sydney decided to go against conventional wisdom by continuing to play volleyball and basketball at Vilonia.  She accepted that softball would be her sport in college, yet she wasn’t willing to give up the other two in high school, not wanting to disappoint her teammates.  Moreover, as a fierce competitor, she couldn’t resist the urge to mix it up in the gym as well as on the diamond.

When coaches started making offers, Sydney was forthright in telling them she wanted to continue to play all three sports in high school. With eyebrows raised and heads shaking, most coaches said the threat of injury in another sport was too great a gamble for them to take. And away they went, one by one.  That is, all but one coach.

Corey Lyon, head softball coach at the University of Louisiana at Monroe, granted Sydney’s wish. Even though Sydney would be going to the Division I school on a softball scholarship, Lyon was willing to allow her to pursue her other two passions in high school. Based on that promise, Sydney signed a National Letter of Intent with the Warhawks during the NCAA early signing period last November.

Sydney, who boasts a 3.5 GPA in the classroom, has made quite an impact off the field, too.

“I work very hard to balance my athletics and studies along with being in other school clubs,” she wrote in her NSR personal message. “I plan on majoring in sports training or criminal justice.  I feel that I can be an asset to any college team because I will do whatever it takes to help my team win as I am extremely competitive.”