Waubonsie's Einbecker signs with Illinois

Brett Einbecker first started throwing the discus and shot put in the eighth grade.

"I was just doing it for fun," he said.

The results have been fun to watch, too, and good enough that Wednesday the Waubonsie Valley senior signed his letter of intent to compete for the University of Illinois track and field team.

"It's going to be really cool," said Einbecker, recalling an unofficial visit he took to Champaign last summer.

"They had their own separate throwing area from the track, really nice," Einbecker said. "It's just all fenced in, it's got multiple throwing rings for shot and disc, and their weight-lifting facility is awesome."

Guided in the decision by his father, Waubonsie Valley throws coach Roger Einbecker, a big reason why Brett selected Illinois was Illini assistant coach Mike Turk, a specialist in throws, jumps and multiple events.

The former Western Michigan head coach, and before that an assistant at Marquette and Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Turk is well-equipped to instruct throwing technique. He and Einbecker first met at the Carlin Nalley Invitational in Lisle last May.

At the high school level, at least, Einbecker's technique doesn't need much tweaking.

Lanky yet strong at 6-foot-4, 250 pounds, Einbecker's discus throw of 175 feet, 8 inches -- on his last throw of the competition -- ranked second only to Lake Park's Dan Block at the 2007 Class AA boys state track meet.

The defending Upstate Eight Conference and Plainfield Central sectional winner in discus, Einbecker's personal best is 183-5.

Also a 2007 state qualifier in shot put, Einbecker's top throw is 54-4, at the 2007 Red Ribbon Classic.

His goals this spring are to exceed 200 feet in discus and 60 feet in shot put, both realistic numbers for the fluid right-hander. In Einbecker's first indoor meet this season, at Thornwood, he sent the shot 52-8.

Einbecker drew interest from Louisville, North Carolina, Auburn, Purdue, Illinois State, Georgia Tech, Oklahoma, Western Illinois, Indiana and Mississippi.

Illinois ultimately won out over Illinois State and Auburn.

"I'm excited about going there and throwing there," he said.

"It'll be a new experience, but I'm pretty sure I'll get used to it quickly."