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Women's Basketball Announces Three

| By: WIU Athletic Communications

Maria Messling, Kaylen Reed and Raegan McCowan will join the program next season.

MACOMB, Ill. – Three players have officially joined the Western Illinois women's basketball program during this year's early signing period, head coach JD Gravina announced. With a point guard and two wings, this class represents the states of Wisconsin, Illinois and Missouri while bringing in a level of talent that has Coach Gravina very excited about the future.
 
"This group completes what is probably our best back-to-back recruiting classes we've ever had. All the players compliment each other so well and fit into what we are continuing to build as a program," Gravina said. "I'm really excited about our future as I think we have all the pieces moving forward to be successful."
 
Joining the program from the Badger State, Maria Messling is a conference championship-winning wing from Evansville High School in Evansville, Wis. With a father who played college football at Winona State who has provided consistent support throughout her sports career, Messling says the decision to join Western's program came down to feeling very welcomed by the coaching staff and at home within the program.
 
"We were lucky to catch Maria playing this summer and instantly were drawn to her motor and physicality," Coach Gravina said. "She plays incredibly hard and that can be hard to find in someone with her height and strength. We then saw her step out and shoot it with great touch and it was clear she would be an asset to our team."
 
A point guard from Rochester, Ill., Kaylen Reed comes to the Leathernecks with an array of athletic and academic accomplishments. A three-time member of the Rochester High School Honor Role and member of the National Honor Society, Reed is a three-time All-Conference selection in both basketball and volleyball, while earning Conference Player of the Year for her performances on the basketball court in 2021-22. A team captain and two-time regional champion, Reed's most memorable basketball moment was winning the conference title during the 2021-22 season.
 
"Kaylen is one of those kids that just has every intangible a college coach is looking for. She's really gritty and a team first kid. I love the idea of having her and Allie Meadows in our backcourt for the foreseeable future," Coach Gravina said. "She is just a winner, and the type of player we look for who represents what it means to be a Leatherneck."
 
The daughter of two former WIU track and cross country athletes, Reed says she's known for a long time that she wanted to be a Leatherneck.
 
"As soon as I stepped on the campus at Western, I knew I was home. The basketball program is everything I have ever dreamed of," she said. "The players and coaches were also so welcoming and I knew I wanted to be a Leatherneck."
 
Raegan McCowan has signed the dotted line and is officially a Western Illinois Leatherneck. A wing originally from Lebanon, Mo., McCowan has found a great deal of success on the court and in the classroom during her high school career. A three-time All-District and three-time All-Conference selection, she was also named All-State in 2022. In the classroom, McCowan is a three-time Academic All-State selection while also being a member of the National Honor Society and earning a spot on the Lebanon High School Honor Role.
 
"Raegan is one of the most dynamic scorers I have ever recruited, and one of the best players in the state of Missouri. She has such a unique combination of being a tremendous athlete who can touch the rim while also possessing the skill set to play in our system," Coach Gravina said. "We really expect Raegan to be able to step in on day one and be a weapon in our offense."
 
A 1,000-point scorer in high school and the daughter of a former college basketball player who later coached at the Division-I level, the decision to sign with WIU came down to feeling at home.
 
"I chose Western because that is where I felt at home. The coaching staff is amazing and I can tell the team really enjoys basketball here," McCowan said. "The community support seems amazing and it reminds me of my hometown. I'm excited to be a Leatherneck!"
 
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