Willowbrook hosts National Letter of Intent Signing Day for two seniors

On Nov. 11, Willowbrook hosted a National Letter of Intent Signing Day for seniors Stephanie Dasbach and Taris Thornton, who have committed to play their sport at the collegiate level.

The students celebrated virtually with administrators, staff members and family members. The event took place online because of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

Stephanie Dasbach

Dasbach has been a member of the Willowbrook Varsity Girls Basketball Team for three years and signed to join the Winona State University Women’s Basketball Team as a center/forward.

Dasbach has been playing basketball since she was in kindergarten and said the camaraderie of the sport is what makes her want to continue at the collegiate level.

“I enjoy being part of a team and having a sense of a second family,” Dasbach said. “I love how you can always get better and learn new moves, drills or plays. Playing is like therapy to me and helps me zone out the rest of the world and just let my emotions out. I am very competitive, so I love to win, and when you lose, you learn something new and how to improve.”

Dasbach said highlights of her high school career include winning Conference her sophomore year, helping her team earn second place in Conference her junior year, bonding with her coaches and teammates during two trips to Grand Valley State University and scoring 34 points and getting 22 rebounds to help her team win against Plainfield Central High School.

Dasbach plans to double major in marketing and graphic design at Winona State University.

Taris Thornton

Thornton transferred to Willowbrook this school year and looks forward to joining the Varsity Girls Basketball Team. She signed to play for the Eastern Illinois University Women’s Basketball Team as a power forward and small forward.

Thornton has been playing basketball for seven years and said the competitive nature of the sport is what makes her want to continue at the collegiate level.

“I enjoy the rush of tight games and not knowing whether you’re going to win,” Thornton said. “I also enjoy making a good play, noticing how much I’ve improved since I first started and meeting a lot of my close friends.”

Thornton said highlights of her career so far include helping her team qualify for the super sectional, being ranked No. 21 on Prep Girls Hoops, being named as an MVP for her team’s second game against Lanphier High School at state and winning the U.S. Junior Nationals (USJN) Summer Final with her Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) team (Illinois Lady Lightning).

At Eastern Illinois University, Thornton plans to pursue a career working with animals or working with students who have disabilities.