Youngstown State Was Always The School Of Choice For Wilms

SALEM - There were three offers made and interest from other colleges, but Gavin Wilms “always wanted to go to Youngstown State.”

The Salem High School senior will get his wish after making a commitment to the Horizon League university.

“In early September I got invited there for a camp,” the 72nd-rated 2023 right-handed pitcher in Ohio reflected. “They said they were definitely interested in me. I performed pretty well and a week-and-a-half later they contacted me after they saw more of me throwing on video.

“In late October I went on a visit,” Wilms continued. “I toured the campus and all the facilities, the cages and bullpen. I went to the home field and went into the coaching office which is when they offered. I committed right there. That was the end of it.”

Mercyherst, Slippery Rock and West Liberty had already offered Wilms while there was additional intrigue from Akron, Lake Erie and “a couple more Division II schools.” But YSU was too good to pass up according to the 6-3 215-pounder.

“I like the culture and I know a lot of guys that are going there,” Wilms related. “The pitching staff knows what they’re talking about and they said I’d have an opportunity to start as a freshman. They also have top-notch facilities.”

While the idea of playing college baseball began around sixth grade, it wasn’t until a few years later when it became realistic.

“At the end of my freshman year I was playing with older high school kids and I was competing with them,” Wilms noted. “It was then that I knew I had a chance.”

There was a lot of help in making the quest to play at the next level a reality.

“I had family and friends by my side,” Wilms said. “My two pitching coaches, Matt DeSalvo and Ben Simon, helped get me better and find people that were interested in me which helped my journey in baseball.

“PBR was always a big help,” Wilms added. “I went to the Top Prospect Games and other showcases which helped put out videos and numbers where coaches started seeing me.”

Youngstown State liked what they saw in the 190th-ranked senior in the state.

“They like that I’m a big kid with a lot of physical attributes,” Wilms pointed out. “They also liked the fact that I could spin pitches and locate every one of them.”

Admittedly, it took hard work to make it all happen.

“You have to be realistic with yourself,” Wilms explained. “See what you have to do and make the sacrifices you have to make. It’s all about how much you want it. Whoever wants it more is going to get it.”

Wilms believes that desire and determination is something he can bring to the table at Youngstown State.

“I’m a hard worker,” Wilms said. “I’ll be the first one there and the last one out. I’ll be there every day. I’m very competitive. I hate losing more than I like winning. That’s a recipe for championships.”

As an uncommitted senior, Wilms admits it was difficult prior to making a decision.

“I wasn’t nervous, but I was getting antsy,” Wilms explained. “I knew I still had time, I just had to continue developing and reaching out to them and eventually it all came full circle.”

That brought on a sense of relief to know his college destination was only 40 minutes away from his home in Salem.

“It’s hard to describe, it was almost like it was unreal,” Wilms said. “The whole process I was wondering where I was going to go and if it would even happen. When it finally did it was a really cool feeling.”

Plans are to major in business administration according to Wilms, who carries a 3.6 GPA at Salem.

“I’m looking forward to competing at the highest level you can compete at in baseball which is Division I,” Wilms concluded. “I can’t wait to hang out with the guys and go on those long trips to Florida and New Orleans and actually look forward to playing baseball.”