McHenry’s Katie Beyer graduates early to start college basketball career at Valparaiso

McHenry’s Katie Beyer heard from friends in states still able to play high school basketball and wondered when – or if – she might get that same chance.

Beyer, less than 50 points from 1,000 in her varsity career, had plans for a big senior year, but the COVID-19 pandemic, which forced most school districts to go to remote learning, put the high school basketball season on hold.

In Illinois, with athletic facilities reduced or shut down completely, finding time on a court can be tricky, especially during the winter.

“The hardest part is trying to find space to shoot and stay in shape,” Beyer said of the shuttered winter sports season in Illinois. “Luckily, I have a basketball hoop in my backyard so I will put a ton of coats on and go outside. That’s really all I can do.”

On Friday, the IHSA announced no changes to the current stalemate on the resumption of high school sports – at least not for higher-risk sports such as basketball. The IHSA board of directors will next meet Jan. 27 with an expectation to release a timeline on when sports may return.

Beyer, fortunately, recently was presented with an offer for more immediate playing time.

Beyer, who committed to Valparaiso in April, got a surprise offer in December to join the NCAA Division-I Crusaders a semester early and jumped at the opportunity.

Beyer will move into Valparaiso’s athletic dormitory, along with Benet early graduate Molly Sheehan, and start her college career a semester early. Beyer finished with all of her credits completed at McHenry on Friday and will be on the Valparaiso, Indiana, campus this weekend.

Beyer said her last goodbyes to Warriors teammates at a weight lifting session Wednesday, one of the few times she has been able to see them outside of online classes and Zoom meetings.

“It was pretty last minute, so I was pretty nervous about it,” Beyer said. “But I was excited, because we haven’t been playing basketball here (in Illinois) and that was one of the main reasons why (Valparaiso) wanted to get me and (Sheehan) to come early.”

Valparaiso women’s basketball coach Mary Evans first reached out to Erin Beyer, Katie’s mother, about the possibility of Katie enrolling early. When everything fell into place, Evans called Katie with the offer.

Erin Beyer said the decision was a “no-brainer” for Katie, who will join her new team next week.

“I reached out to her counselor at McHenry to make sure she had enough credits, and everything just kind of fell in place,” Erin Beyer said. “She had taken all of the English (classes), she had consumer (education) done, and all the things you’re supposed to have done by your senior year to graduate.

“It was like it was meant to be, and because it doesn’t look like Illinois is shaping up in terms of having a (high school basketball) season, it was a no-brainer for her, because she really missed playing. It’s been many months since she’s had some real physical workouts with teammates.”

Erin Beyer said her daughter grew frustrated at the state’s restrictions and the chance to start playing again was too good to pass up.

“I think, like all kids, they’re basically homebodies right now, so she misses her team and friends,” Erin Beyer said. “Just doing things like shooting around and weight training can be hard. From time to time, she can go work out at the gym. But she misses it and I think she’s frustrated.”

Katie Beyer earned Northwest Herald All-Area first team honors last season after leading all Fox Valley Conference players in scoring (17.4 ppg) and rebounding (10.8 rpg). She made 51.6% of her shots and helped lead the Warriors to their third straight season with 20 wins.

Beyer will be reunited with a former McHenry teammate, guard Ava Interrante, who is in her first year at Valparaiso. Beyer has not yet had a tour of the Missouri Valley Conference school because of pandemic restrictions, but she did attend a summer camp with her AAU team, Illinois Elite, in August.

Valparaiso currently is 5-5 and 1-2 in the MVC.

McHenry girls basketball coach Rob Niemic is excited for Beyer, who gets a chance to jump-start her college career.

“It’s a big decision, and we’re happy for her,” Niemic said. “When you talk about getting a head start, as an athlete, it’s a dream. She’s going to be an awesome student-athlete at Valpo. They’re getting a great one.”

Niemic said not having normal routines this season has been difficult on all of his players.

“Kids and athletes thrive off of those relationships, just like coaches do,” Niemic said. “You always remember your senior year, those big things that happen every year, whether it’s senior night or anything involving tradition that they’re used to and looking forward to their senior year. It’s out of their hands, and that’s tough. It’s kind of deflating.”

Katie Beyer hopes McHenry and every basketball team in the state eventually gets to play this season.

The Warriors were set to return four senior starters, including Beyer.

“It’s been pretty hard not to be around them,” she said. “The group of teammates that I have, I’ve been playing with them since I was in sixth grade. They’re my closest friends, and it’s been pretty hard not to have that. I really hope they get to have a little bit of a season. I’m still going to keep in touch with them and visit from Valpo.”