Willerer Happy To Find A Place That Cares About Him

Graham Willerer RHP / SS / St. Thomas Aquinas, NH / 2025

NEWMARKET, N.H. - “I could tell they really wanted me.”

That proved to be a key factor in Graham Willerer making a college commitment to Sacred Heart.

“The coaching staff showed me the most care,” Willerer related. “Location was also a big factor. It’s only a few hours from home. And their business program is really good.”

It added up to the decision to select Sacred Heart over UMass Amherst and Quinnipiac, the final three choices in the recruiting process for the St. Thomas Aquinas incoming senior.

The 17-year-old looked at area colleges with his father back in March and that is when interest in the university in Fairfield, Ct., began.

“I posted bullpens and he DM’d me,” Willerer said of the initial contact with recruiting coordinator TK Kiernan at Sacred Heart. “I had a call in June and he was telling me about the school. They set a program record this year.

“We texted a lot after that and I could tell they really cared about me. They saw me throw an inning in the summer and two days later saw me again and I threw well. On the way home they called and wanted to offer. The next Sunday I had a zoom call and they gave me my offer.”

An official visit followed, with other college trips taking place as well with additional offers coming in.

“Sacred Heart was my last visit and I was blown away,” Willerer reflected. “They’re really headed in the right direction at the school.”

When the financial offer was increased, Willerer became the first in his class to make a commitment to Sacred Heart.

“I’ve been thinking about playing college baseball since 13U with NEB,” Willerer said.

The decision to focus on pitching helped the cause.

“I’ve been a shortstop my whole life,” Willerer related. “I don’t have much power so last summer I thought I could have a better chance if I focused more on pitching. I’m now sitting where I topped at last summer. I’m topping at 89 now and I’ve developed a change. I have command of my slider and I’m more experienced.”

Those factors, along with a pair of PBR showcases and Twitter, were big in schools taking an interest in the 5-7 155-pounder.

“I’m undersized but they like how I attack with my fastball and have a good bite on my slider,” Willerer noted. “They also like my mentality. Coach Kiernan said they need a dog on the mound.”

Willerer pointed to coaches that were vital in his baseball journey.

“I’d like to credit Steve Lomasney, Brandon Bingel and Brent Edmunds from Show New England, and a big credit goes to Alex Powers, my pitching coach at Powerhouse Sports, as well as Cory Varrell, my lifting coach,” Willerer noted. “Coach Stan Jurkoic from Newmarket High School along with my current St. Thomas Aquinas baseball team have also helped me.”

Willerer, who carries a 3.9 GPA in high school and plans to major in business at Sacred Heart, is both relieved and excited about knowing where his future lies.

“What a huge weight off my shoulders,” Willerer said of the commitment to the university located three hours from home. “It’s good to know I can anchor down and work and not worry about recruiting.

“I’m the type of guy that wants to be busy and just keep improving. I want to be a Friday starter at Sacred Heart at one point. That’s the goal. And I want to get drafted.”