9 Lemont High School Student-Athletes Make College Commitments

LEMONT, IL — Nine Lemont High School student-athletes have announced their commitments to compete collegiately beginning in Fall 2026, Lemont High School shared in a news release. They include baseball players Carson Caruso (St. Norbert College), Matt Ciesla (North Central College) and Grady Garofalo (South Suburban College); dancer Madison Bostjancic (Western Michigan University); football players Jakub Maka (Carthage College) and Dylan Muersch (Saint Xavier University); softball player Emma Barrett (St. Ambrose University); and men’s volleyball players Eamon Salmon (St. Ambrose University) and Mike Tilly (Lake Forest College).

Lemont High School provided information on each student below:

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Emma Barrett – Career Highlights
• Is in her second season playing for head coach Chris Traina
• Has improved her offensive production as a senior in 2026 and seen time in the corner outfield positions
• Has appeared in 11 games and is batting .421 with 11 runs scored and five stolen bases
• Ranks second on the team with a .593 on-base percentage and leads the squad with five hit-by-pitches
• Made her varsity debut as a junior in 2025
• Appeared in 30 games and batted .333 with two doubles, seven RBIs, and 25 runs scored
• Drew 14 walks, stole six bases, and posted an on-base percentage of .500
• Lemont went 27-11, won the South Suburban Conference-Blue Division with an 18-1 league record, captured an IHSA Regional title, and finished as the sectional runner-up
• Also played basketball and was an honorable mention all-conference selection as a senior
• Plays travel softball for USA Prime Mid-State
• Honor Roll student
• Will play for head coach John Kelly at St. Ambrose University, an NAIA institution located in Davenport, Iowa, and a member of the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference.

Madison Bostjancic – Career Highlights
• Earned four letters, including two for head coach Julie Rolston
• Was part of both the sideline and competitive varsity teams throughout her career
• Honored as a Universal Dance Association All-American four straight years
• Served as a team captain as a senior in 2026
• Earned all-conference honors and was selected as the team MVP
• Helped Lemont to a South Suburban Conference-Blue Division title
• Cited as an All-SSC selection as a junior in 2025
• Tabbed as the program’s Teammate of the Year and helped Lemont to an SSC Blue crown
• Helped Lemont to an IHSA Class 2A State Finals berth in 2023
• Member of Lemont’s Golden Cheer & Dance team
• Also dances at Elevation Dance Company
• High Honor Roll and National Honor Society student
• Will be part of head coach Susan Scheve’s team at Western Michigan University, an NCAA Division I institution that is located in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and is a member of the Mid-American Conference.

Carson Caruso – Career Highlights
• Is in his first season playing for head coach Brian Storako
• Has seen time as a lefthanded pitcher, as well as a bat off the bench, as a senior in 2026
• Is 2-0 with a 0.88 ERA, allowing just two hits in 8.0 innings
• Has struck out 10 batters (8.75 per seven innings) and limited opponents to a .077 batting average
• Picked up his first career hit and has drawn two walks, driven in two, and scored a run
• Plays travel baseball for Illinois Premier
• Honor Roll student
• Will play for head coach Mike Wallerich at St. Norbert College, an NCAA Division III institution located in De Pere, Wisconsin, and a member of the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference.

Matt Ciesla – Career Highlights

• Is in his second season playing for head coach Brian Storako
• Has assumed the role of the team’s starting catcher as a senior in 2026
• Has appeared in nine games and is batting .385 with six RBIs and three runs scored
• Leads the team with five doubles and is second on the squad with a .577 slugging percentage
• Made his varsity debut as a junior in 2025
• Also lettered twice in football
• Plays travel baseball for Rhino Baseball
• High Honor Roll student
• Will play for head coach Ed Mathey at North Central College, an NCAA Division III institution located in Naperville, and a member of the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin.

Grady Garofalo – Career Highlights
• Is in his second season playing for head coach Brian Storako
• Two-year starter in center field
• Serving as a team captain as a senior in 2026
• Has appeared in 10 games and is batting .320 with six RBIs and a team-leading 15 runs scored
• Hit his first career home run and leads the team with four hit-by-pitches
• Ranks second on the squad in on-base percentage (.541) and OPS (1.061) and third in slugging percentage (.520)
• Made his varsity debut as a junior in 2025, earning honorable mention all-conference honors
• Plays travel baseball for Cangelosi Sparks
• High Honor Roll student
• Will play for head coach Steve Ruzich at South Suburban College, an NJCAA Division II institution located in South Holland.

Jakub Maka – Career Highlights
• Earned two varsity letters playing for head coach Willie Hayes
• Two-year starter at safety
• Totaled 75 tackles (48 solo), including six tackles-for-loss, and four interceptions
• Helped Lemont to a composite 11-9 record, which included two South Suburban Conference-Blue Division titles and two IHSA Playoff appearances
• Team captain who earned All-SSC Blue honors as a senior in 2025
• Also was cited as the team’s Defensive MVP by his peers
• Collected 33 tackles (22 solo), which included two tackles-for-loss, as well as one sack and one interception
• Led the team with four pass breakups, two forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries
• Cited as an Illinois High School Football Coaches Association Academic All-State selection
• Lemont went 5-5, shared the SSC Blue title, and advanced to the IHSA Class 5A Playoffs
• Made his varsity debut as a junior in 2024
• Also has participated in track and field
• High Honor Roll student
• Will play for head coach Matt Popino at Carthage College, an NCAA Division III institution located in Kenosha, Wisconsin, and a member of the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin.

Dylan Muersch – Career Highlights
• Earned two varsity letters playing for head coach Willie Hayes
• Wide receiver who totaled 17 catches for 141 yards (8.3 yards per catch) and one touchdown
• Helped Lemont to a composite 11-9 record, which included two South Suburban Conference-Blue Division titles and two IHSA Playoff appearances
• Posted career highs with nine catches for 87 yards (9.7 yards per catch) as a senior in 2025
• Recorded his first career touchdown catch
• Lemont went 5-5, shared the SSC Blue title, and advanced to the IHSA Class 5A Playoffs
• Made his varsity debut as a junior in 2024
• Also has participated in track and field
• Honor Roll student
• Will play for head coach Mike Feminis at Saint Xavier University, an NAIA institution located in Chicago, and a member of the Mid-States Football Association.

Eamon Salmon – Career Highlights
• Is in his second season playing for head coach Chris Zogata
• Has seen time as an outside hitter and defensive specialist, with increased playing time this season
• Has appeared in 27 games (through matches of April 11), posting 14 kills and five service aces
• Has directed 72 passes to target and collected 39 digs (1.44 digs per game)
• Made his varsity debut as a junior in 2025
• Also has participated in bowling and earned induction to three honor societies
• Plays club volleyball for Sports Performance
• High Honor Roll student
• Will play for head coach Ray Green at St. Ambrose University, an NAIA institution located in Davenport, Iowa, and a member of the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference.

Mike Tilly – Career Highlights
• Is in his second season playing for head coach Chris Zogata
• Two-year starter at libero
• Has appeared in 37 games (through matches of April 11) and leads the team in digs (137), digs per game (3.70), passes-to-target (216) and serve receptions (268)
• Also is second on the team in service aces (17) and serve percentage (94.2%)
• Made his varsity debut as a junior in 2025
• Also has participated in cross country and track and field
• Plays club volleyball for 630 Volleyball
• High Honor Roll and National Honor Society student
• Will play for head coach Daniel Coates at Lake Forest College, an NCAA Division III institution and a volleyball only member of the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference.