Addison Trail senior signs to wrestle and play baseball for Lincoln College

On May 20, Addison Trail senior Jaime Valdez signed to wrestle and play baseball for Lincoln College.

Valdez has been playing baseball since he was about 5 years old and began wrestling his freshman year. He said highlights of his high school wrestling career include winning the West Suburban Conference Gold Division Championship three times with his team, winning the Batavia Tournament his senior year, being named All-Conference and Academic All-Conference his senior year and being named as Captain of the team his senior year. Highlights from his high school baseball career include earning 3rd place in the West Suburban Conference Gold Division Championship this year with his team and being named as Captain of the team this year.

Valdez said his passion for baseball and wrestling is what gave him the motivation to continue the sports at the collegiate level.

“Wrestling definitely builds character,” he said. “It helps develop you as an athlete and as a person. You have to put in the time and effort to get where you want to be as a wrestler. Baseball is such a fun sport, and it has always been a part of my life – I just love the game.”

Valdez thanks his coaches, teammates and family for their support and for helping him develop the skills necessary to fulfill his goal of competing in collegiate sports. He plans to major in business at Lincoln College.