By Rich Palzewic
Sports Editor
DE PERE – Two West De Pere High School student-athletes signed their National Letters of Intent Feb. 14 to continue their academic/athletic careers at the collegiate level.
Seniors Cameron Dupont (baseball) and Billy Wyatt (football) signed their intent letters in front of friends and family in a morning ceremony at West De Pere High School.
“These are two great kids, and they will do great things at the next level,” said West De Pere Director of Student Activities Scott Eggart. “We’ve been lucky to have them as student-athletes at West De Pere, and their universities are lucky to have them, too. It was a nice day for them and their families.”
Dupont, who plays infield for the Phantoms but was recruited as a catcher, will be playing for Madison Area Technical College, a junior college that competes in Division II.
“Last year, I had a Division I scholarship offer from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale, but about halfway through the summer, they got a new coach,” said Dupont, who is the son of Todd and Jeni Dupont. “I made the decision to de-commit from there and head to Madison College. They are known for their baseball. Signing my intent letter takes the pressure off – now I can concentrate on helping my team this spring and having fun.”
West De Pere baseball coach Joe Rukamp also had high praise for his multi-talented player.
“Cameron has been a key part of our back-to-back conference championships,” he said. “He was first-team all-conference as a sophomore at first base and first-team last season at third base. Hopefully, this year he’ll be all-conference playing mostly shortstop. Even though he’s being recruited as a catcher in college, he’s been totally unselfish and never once complained. When it’s all said and done, he will go down as one of the best hitters in West De Pere history. He currently has the fourth-highest batting average [.461], second-highest RBI total in a season [36] and holds the school record for triples. He works hard and puts in the effort.”
Wyatt, the son of Mickie and Charlie Wyatt, will head to Division II Concordia University-St. Paul in Minnesota.
“I also had some Division I offers,” said the 6-foot-6, 230-pound Wyatt. “Valparaiso and Drake wanted me more as a tackle, but Concordia recruited me as a tight end. I am excited to finally sign.”
Wyatt said he didn’t go out for football as a seventh-grader and wasn’t planning on playing in the future.
“My eighth-grade coach influenced me to go out,” he said. “[Former head coach] Jack Batten also had a big influence on me. He pushed me hard in practice and made me who I am today.”
Batten stepped down as head coach of the Phantoms in January after a six-year tenure.
“Billy is West De Pere’s version of a renaissance man – he can do it all,” Batten said. “He’s as unique as an individual I’ve met in my 32 years in education. His friend group crosses a myriad of peer groups in our school. He gets along with everybody, and everybody likes. He was one of the elite tight ends in the state this past season. He was all about the team and was willing to do what was best. Concordia is getting a steal – they got a bonafide Division I football player and an academic scholar.”