Looper Signs 6 Prep Standouts

Nov. 18, 2015

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IOWA CITY, Iowa — Six prep standouts — Taylor Makowsky, Havyn Monteer, Devin Cantu, Lea Thompson, Taylor Libby, and Allison Doocy — will join the University of Iowa softball program next year, head coach Marla Looper announced Wednesday.

“I’m really excited about this class,” said Looper. “This class fills some of the gaps we have, and gives us depth where we need it. We’ve been anxious about getting some of the speed on campus, and this class elevates our speed greatly. It also gives us some power in the offensive lineup. I’m anxious to get them on campus in a year to build upon what we do this year.”

Devin Cantu — C, Cedar Hill, Texas
Cantu, a three-time first team all-district selection, has earned a District 7-5A award in each of her three seasons at Cedar Hill High School. The right-handed hitter earned Newcomer of the Year as a freshman, Defensive Player of the Year as a sophomore, and Offensive Player of the Year as a junior.

Cantu plays club for Texas Glory Adkins-Allen 18u Gold. She helped her team to top 10 finishes at the TCS Fireworks Super 64 Power Pool (5th) and the Triple Crown Texas State Nationals (9th) in 2015.

Cantu, a multi-sport athlete, is a two-time state powerlifting qualifier. She finished ninth at the state meet as a junior and eighth as a senior.

Coach Looper on Cantu:
“Devin is going to be a big force both behind the plate and at the plate. She brings a great power to the plate offensively, and it will be interesting to see her elevate her game to the next level. I’m excited to get that power in our lineup.”

Havyn Monteer — OF/IF, Boonville, Mo.
Monteer is a 2015 all-state selection out of Boonville R-1 High School. The left-handed hitter is a four-time all-conference and all-district honoree, and a three-time all-region selection. Monteer currently holds school records for most at bats (323), runs (144), hits (154), singles (103), and stolen bases (97) in her career. She also owns the record for most runs (46), hits (53), and singles (42) in a season.

Monteer has excelled in the classroom. She was named to the Principal’s Honor Roll and earned academic all-conference honors in 2013, 2014, and 2015.

Coach Looper on Monteer:
“Havyn was on the same club team with (freshman) Brooke Rozier. She brings us speed in the outfield, and she has now started to hit on the left side. I’m anxious to have her good speed and ability here on campus.”

Taylor Makowsky — P, Tomball, Texas
Makowsky earned District MVP honors as a junior at Klein Oak High School. The right-hander is a three-time all-district selection; garnering second team honors her freshman and sophomore year and first team accolades as a senior.

Coach Looper on Makowsky:
“Taylor is a long and mean pitcher. She has some great upside and stature on the mound. She adds depth in the circle, and she has good spin and a great presence on the mound.”

Lea Thompson — IF, Indianapolis
Thompson is a three-time all-conference selection out of Scecina Memorial High School. The left-handed hitter was named third team all-state following her junior year and has earned her team’s Offensive Player of the Year award for the past two seasons. Thompson helped her team to a state title in 2013 as well as three conference championships (2013-15), sectional championships (2013-15), and regional championships (2013-15).

A standout student, Thompson is second in her class with a 4.28 GPA. She is a member of the National Honors Society, Rho Kappa Kappa, Debate Club, and serves as a student ambassador.

Coach Looper on Thompson:
“Lea is going to bring some needed depth to the middle infield. She has good speed and is an option on the left side of the plate. She has a great bubbly personality, and a real passion for the game. I know she’s excited to be a Hawkeye.”

Taylor Libby — C, Iowa City, Iowa
Libby is a 2014 second team Mississippi Valley Conference honoree out of West High School. The right-handed hitter earned honorable mention Mississippi Valley Conference accolades as a sophomore, and hit .440 as a junior with 16 doubles and four home runs. Libby currently holds school records for doubles (16) and RBIs (45) in a single season. She helped her team to a conference championship in 2015, and a fourth-place finish at the state tournament in 2012.

Libby comes from an athletic family. Her mother, Larissa, is a former Canadian Gymnastics National Team member, and is currently the head women’s gymnastics coach at the University of Iowa.

Libby also exceeds in the classroom. The Iowa City, Iowa, native was inducted into the National Honors Society in 2015.

Coach Looper on Libby:
“Taylor is an Iowan. She is a catcher that brings some offensive power. She is a great student, and she’s really passionate about what she is doing. Taylor wants to be that representative in the local area. We are blessed to have her stay close to home and be a part of the Hawkeye program. She will represent this area with pride.”

Allison Doocy — P, Ankeny, Iowa
Doocy is a right-handed pitcher out of Ankeny High School — the same high school as current ace Shayla Starkenburg. She earned second team all-state, first team CIC-Eastern, second team CIC all-conference, and 5A West all-district honors as a junior. Doocy set the Iowa State Tournament Strikeout Record in 2015, recording 33 strikeouts in three state tournament games. She helped her team to a third-place finish at the state tournament in 2013 and a seventh-place finish in 2015. Doocy currently holds the school record for strikeouts in a single season (233).

A three-sport athlete, Doocy is a two-time state qualifier in track and field and volleyball. The Iowa native finished eighth in the 3,200-meter relay in 2014 and 13th in the same event in 2015. Doocy also recorded a 16th-place finish in the high jump at the 2013 state track meet. As a defensive specialist and outside hitter, Doocey helped her volleyball team to back-to-back state tournament appearances in 2013 and 2014.

Doocy has also excelled in the classroom. She was named to the CIML All-Academic team, and earned the Academic Excellence Award in 2013, 2014, and 2015.

Coach Looper on Doocy:
“Allison is long and lanky. She is a multi-sport athlete that has now narrowed her focus to softball. She caught our eye late, but she is sneaky good. She puts the ball and spins the ball where she wants. She has room to develop, but I’m excited to see where she can go.”