Zacheus Carr’s love for basketball and baseball did not get in his way to becoming an excellent student during his time at Mahomet-Seymour High School.
Because of his dedication to school, his love for math and science, and his ability to put his nose to the grind and work hard, Carr was not only accepted to the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, but will also have the opportunity to continue his career in baseball while he studies engineering.
“It’s probably been since sixth grade that I’ve said, ‘I’m going to be an engineer,’” Carr said.
“I’m not sure exactly what type of engineering I want to go into yet; I’m thinking mechanical, biomedical or chemical. But they have a class in your freshman year, where you take two to three weeks with each engineering major. And so you get a little bit of hands-on experience.”
He feels that the experience and high standards at Mahomet-Seymour have set him up to realize success at Rose Hulman, where only 68-percent of applicants are accepted.
“I’m thankful for the math and science teachers out Mahomet,” he said.
“It’s not easy. Some of those math classes you really want to like be mad at the teacher but they really pushed me to get those test scores up, kept pushing me to get the grades that you need to get into a school like Rose Hulman.”
But first, Carr wants to finish what he started on the Mahomet-Seymour baseball team.
Like all spring-sport athletes, Carr’s junior baseball season was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The right-handed pitcher has not competed on the Mahomet-Seymour baseball field since his sophomore year.
Carr has been able to play, though, despite Illinois pandemic mitigations, through his high school travel team, the Illinois Braves. He was also a member of the Mahomet Diamond Dogs until he turned 14.
It was the Braves head coach, Ryan Tabeling, who helped Carr realize the dream he established as a freshmen: playing baseball for the Fighting Engineers.
Tabeling encouraged him to “broaden his horizons” and also consider other schools and programs, while also keeping him focused on his goals and skill set.
But when it came down to decision making at the end of his junior year, Carr took a guided tour around Rose Hulman, led by a fellow pitcher, who also introduced him to the team and let him watch a practice.
With new friendships on the horizon, Carr knows the power of the relationships he’s built with his classmates over the years.
“I’m looking forward to one more year out there with a lot of my close friends,” he said.
“I just think of baseball on a warm summer afternoon, out there having fun, talking, playing catch.”
Carr has enjoyed growing up and playing baseball with his sidekick, Will Sampson.
“We’ve played on the same travel baseball team from 9U, all the way through now,” Carr said. “Every year we’ve always played on the same travel team. Obviously we’ve been through school ball together. He’s one of my best friends.”
The 6’2” senior also said that he believes the 2021 Bulldogs will be a force to be reckoned with.
“Hopefully we will win a regional,” he said.
