Jackman commits to NCCC
Will Jackman has come a long way in a relatively short period of time.
The 19-year-old Niagara Falls native always possessed a good deal of natural talent, and over his five years at A.N. Myer worked his way into a legitimate collegiate athlete.
Jackman recently committed to Niagara County Community College in Sanborn, N.Y., where he will study landscape architecture while pitching for the Thunder Wolves.
“Willy came to Myer in Grade 9 with some significant skills already,” Myer baseball/football coach Dave Buchanan said. “He then continued to improve over the years with a solid work ethic and natural talent.
“Not only was he a big part of our success on the field, he has always been a big part of the team’s close-knit family attitude. He’s a great teammate who always brings a positive attitude and excitement to the group.”
Jackman is excited to start his new journey.
“It’s actually a relief to know where I’m going,” he said. “It’s nice to know and talk to the coach. He’s telling us about all these fall trips they have planned going to different universities.
“I’m getting excited to be on the field. This will be the first summer in my whole life where I haven’t played baseball.”
Jackman, who according the Prepbaseballreport.com features a fastball that tops out at 84 miles-per-hour, felt a community college was the best fit for him at this stage of his development.
“It’s two years to get better and work out in the gym and craft your skills,” he said. “It’s baseball for two years and then transfer to a four-year (school) and see what happens.”
Jackman played minor ball for the Niagara Falls Falcons until Grade 9 when he moved across the border to play in Buffalo.
“They (NCCC) used to come to our games,” he said. “When it came time to make a decision, I thought that was the best place for me. Go there and get innings right away as a freshman pitcher and get even more playing time to go somewhere later on.”
Jackman also played football and hockey for the Marauders.
“Baseball was always the main sport,” he said. “I was always way better at baseball when I was a kid but I didn’t start getting better until about halfway through high school. I started taking it more seriously and knowing I had to work out and work hard for things. They weren’t just going to be given to you.”
Jackman, who has planned to pitch this summer for the Niagara Metros, has been putting the downtime afforded to him by the COVID-19 pandemic to good use.
“It’s been pretty good. The whole quarantine has helped me a lot,” he said. “I have a home gym set up and have a trainer in the States. He sent me a program and I’m following that. I’ve also been running a lot and doing cardio to get in better shape.”
Buchanan plans to keep tabs on Jackman.
“I’m excited to see Willy’s journey into collegiate baseball at NCCC,” Buchanan said. “He’s always had been a big part of any team he’s been a part of, and I would expect this experience to be the same. We will miss him at Myer.”
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