The Keokuk High School hosted a signing day on Jan. 13 for senior Suzie Whitaker, who has signed a letter of intent to play softball at William Penn University in Oskaloosa, Iowa.
“We are overwhelmed with joy that she has been given the opportunity to continue playing,” Andy Whitaker, Suzie’s father, said. “She has put in a ton of time and has continued to push herself to be better.”
Whitaker is the starting catcher for the Chiefs and has played on varsity since joining the KHS team the summer after eighth grade. As a junior with a batting average of .385, Whittaker lead her team in runs, hits, at bats, and games started and played in 2023-24. She is also third in the Southeast Conference in stolen bases.
She made the All Southeast Conference First Team and the Academic Southeast Conference list in 2024, and was chosen as the Daily Gate City Athlete of the Week on July 5, 2024. As a sophomore she made the All Southeast Conference Second Team and the Academic Southeast Conference list in 2023.
Suzie’s parents, Andy and Renee, credit Tim and Mindy Thompson, as well as Sara Wadden, for encouraging Suzie to get more involved in local and regional travel softball growing up. Andy said they believed in her and pushed her to continue to improve as a catcher.
“I’m super excited and there are some nerves for when I will meet and play with new people, but I’m so excited,” Whitaker said about heading to college. Suzie emphasized that she also chose William Penn for the academic opportunities and her parents added that academics were a “huge driving force” in her choice. Suzie is ranked first in her class with a 4.0 grade point average and is a member of the National Honor Society and the KHS Student Council. She plans to major in exercise science and ultimately study athletic training. Her interest in this area of study stemmed from sports injuries and recovery as a student athlete.
She will play her fifth and final season this summer as a Chief before heading to William Penn this fall as a Statesmen. William Penn plays in the Heart of America Conference of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA).
When Tim Thompson, Chief’s softball coach, was asked if he was proud of Suzie and her teammate Ada Wood, the chief’s starting pitcher, for both signing on to play softball at the collegiate level, he said “I am absolutely proud of them and ecstatic that they are continuing to go on and play.”
