The Beecher High School Athletic Hall of Fame Commission is pleased to announce Jill Shafer (Jacobson) as a member of the 2023 Hall of Fame Class. Jill was an exceptional multisport athlete during her time as a Ladycat. The 2007 graduate excelled on the volleyball court, basketball court, and softball field. Jill was a part of the remarkable 2007 graduating class, which was the only class in the school’s history to win a regional title in volleyball, basketball, and softball in the same school year (06-07).
In volleyball, Jill was named to the Daily Journal All-Area team and All-River Valley Conference three straight years from 2004-2006. Her senior season in 2006 was a historic one as she helped lead the Ladycats to a sectional title and a birth into the super-sectional. The only volleyball sectional title in the school’s history.
On the basketball court, Jill was a part of an 18 win team that won a regional title as well as an RVC championship in 2006-2007. Jill was named to the all conference team and all area team twice. Her senior year she lead the team in rebounds (10.7 rpg) and steals (3.3 spg). Jill accumulated over 700 career rebounds which puts her within the top 5 all time in Beecher girls basketball history.
During Jill’s 4 year softball career at Beecher she helped lead the Ladycats to a 138-9 record including 2 state championships in 2004 and in 2007. Jill was a four year starting outfielder who was named to the Daily Journal All-Area team and RVC All-Conference all four years as a Ladycat. Her junior year she was named to the Illinois Coaches Association All-State second team. Her senior year she batted leadoff and hit .442 and was named to the first team ICA All-State first team and also named to the prestigious Illinois Super 60 All-Star team.
After high school, Jill continued her collegiate softball career at Valparaiso University. She made 130 career starts in the outfield as well as pitching 22 appearances. In her first career start in the circle, she pitched a three hit, eight strikeout shutout vs Holy Cross. This start earned her Horizon League Pitcher of the Week. She finished her career with a .338 on-base percentage and a 3.86 ERA.