This fall, one of the Rockets' most-decorated athletes, a medalist in track & field and cross country, plans to continue making strides in athletics and academics at Ball State.
by Dan Chamness
At one point during the last 18 months, recent Tolono Unity graduate Emily Decker did not know if she wanted to continue her collegiate athletic career in cross country and track and field.
But, the Ball State University coaching staff can be very convincing.
Sentinel/Clark Brooks
Unity's Emily Decker crosses the finish line of the Class 2A 1600m Run. The senior earned a medal, finishing fourth in Class 2A with a time of 5:02.99. With several options to choose from, the Rockets' four-year varsity runner decided to continue her running career at Ball State.
"I chose Ball State because they really made me feel wanted," said Decker of the Muncie, Indiana-based school. I did not know for sure if I wanted to continue, but the coaches and my future teammates understood my apprehension about competing in college."
Indiana State University and Illinois State University, also NCAA Division I teams, also showed interest in the multi-sport Rocket athlete.
"Since I was undecided for a bit, it limited the number of schools that I spoke with," said Decker. "I am currently on a training plan that my coaches at Ball State (Adrian Wheatley, Rachel Nichwitz) have sent me. I am trying to stay fit mentally and physically. Right now, I am running six days a week. I also cross train, usually biking. I also lift weights three or four times a week."
Decker put herself on the map of any college watching the state finals in either cross country or track from her freshman year. She would help Tolono Unity win three cross country state championships in the Illinois High School Association Class 1A Finals. They were second during her senior season.
Two of those state title wins were in dominating fashion. As a sophomore, she finished 19th and was the second scoring runner. The Rockets would win by 101 points, scoring only 84 points. Chicago-based DePaul College Prep finished with 185 points to take second. They would make it a three-peat in 2023, scoring 109 points to win by 48 points. Anna-Jonesboro took second with 157 points.
"When we won my freshman year, it was pretty sweet, because no one expected us to win," recalled Decker.
Three years and approximately six months after helping the Lady Rockets earn a trophy every year of her career in cross country, she would be instrumental in helping them earn their first track trophy of her career. They would finish second in the state in the IHSA Class 2A Finals. The only girl's team in the state of Illinois in Class 2A Division was fellow Central Illinois team, Normal University High. Unity would finish with a total of 49 points, while University High had 64.
Personally, Decker entered the track state finals her senior year with a medal count of six, three in cross country and three more in track and field. By the time the state meet was over at 5 p.m. on May 24, Decker had upped her career medal count to nine. She would not only collect her fourth consecutive medal in the 3,200-meter relay, as the Rockets started their running day with a state title in the event. Individually, she would finish third in the 3,200-meter run and fourth in the 1,600-meter run as a senior.
While most of the athletes on the Ball State women's cross country team are from the state of Indiana, there is one from Illinois currently on the team in Batavia's Jenna Schifferer, who is slated to return for her senior year. There is no men's cross country team at Ball State, only a women's team. The same for track as the Cardinals only have a women's team.
Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks
Decker runs with the main pack in the title race of the 1600m run at the 2025 IHSA state meet.
Of the 12 runners contributing on varsity for the Ball State cross country team, only four were seniors. Eight are slated to return.
In 2024, in the sport of cross country, the BSU Cardinals finished seventh of the 12 teams in the Mid-American Conference. They would finish 17th of the 32 teams in the NCAA Division I Great Lakes Regional. In the winter of 2025, they were fourth of the dozen teams in the MAC Indoor Championships. In outdoor, they finished eighth.
"I am eager to run those collegiate distances and also try out some different events," said Decker. "The 3,000-meter steeplechase is an event that looks cool and I might try that. I have always liked the further distances and I am eager to see how I do at them."
The daughter of Bill and Julie Decker of Philo will be seeking a Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education. Besides her athletic exploits in running, she was also a member of the Lady Rocket basketball team and was a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA). At Unity, she has received an academic letter for all four years for her achievements in the classroom.
"The entire community was geared toward helping us succeed," said Decker. "That is what I will miss the most. The unwavering support from everyone, the community, my teammates, the entire school and the coaches. I can't imagine anyplace being more supportive overall."
Learning by leading: Building teen entrepreneurship and real-world business know-how
Already on Tiktok or Instagram? Teens can get real-world skills by blending business and their social media platforms into a unique venture this summer where they can learn valuable business experience as entrepreneurs.
Rybak wins state track title, next stop Notre Dame
Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks
Father McGivney's Elena Rybak and St. Anthony's Isabella Keller embrace after running in the Class 1A 1600m Run on Saturday at the Illinois High School Association's Girls Track & Field State Finals.
by Dan Chamness
