Showcase Q&A: Payson Seymour’s Schwartz discusses firefighting and basketball

The fourth annual Muddy River Showcase takes place June 21 at John Wood
Community College’s Student Activity Center. The girls game will tip at 2 p.m.
with the boys game to follow at 4 p.m. General admission is $10.

PAYSON, Ill. — Blake Schwartz’s accomplishments on the basketball court could have pushed him to follow his hoops dreams at the next level, but he is following a different calling.

Payson Seymour’s all-time leading scorer will head to John Wood Community College this fall to pursue a degree in fire science in hopes of becoming a firefighter. Schwartz said two people close to him provided the inspiration for him to follow such a path.

“My uncle was a firefighter,” Schwartz said. “One of the seniors when I was a freshman, Aidan Perry, he’s a firefighter now, and he always tells me how fun it is. He thinks I’ll enjoy it, and I want to do something I enjoy.”

Schwartz will forfeit his time on the hardwood to put his focus squarely on his education, which he plans to put to use saving lives.

“A lot goes into (playing college basketball),” Schwartz said. “I want to be fully dedicated to what I do, and I just don’t think I would be.”

Schwartz will get the opportunity to play at John Wood’s Student Activity Center, though, before he trades his high tops for firefighter boots. Schwartz will represent Payson Seymour for the Illinois boys team in the Muddy River Showcase on June 21.

“I remember doing some workouts there, and we played there in the Rumble on the River,” Schwartz said of the showcase venue. “I’ve always liked the gym. The lighting is great. I like it a lot.”

Schwartz discussed the Showcase, his record-setting career at Payson Seymour and more with Muddy River Sports Writer Shane Hulsey in this Showcase Q&A.

Q: What are you looking forward to most about playing in the Showcase?

A: I’m just most excited to play with everybody on the court one more time. Something I’ve looked forward to since I was a kid is playing in all the all-star games. I remember going to Pepsi Arena and watching (the Herald-Whig Classic) when I was a kid. I always looked forward to maybe playing in it one day.

Q: When you were notified that you had the opportunity to play in the Showcase, what was your reaction?

A: I was excited. I wanted to see who I would be playing with and if any of my teammates from Payson would be playing in it. There isn’t anyone else from Payson, but I’m just excited to play with other kids from around here that I know.

Q: Who are some players you are most looking forward to playing with?

A: Elijah Genenbacher, Casen Tobias, Lewis Siegfried, and Gavin Grothaus. They played in the Pike County All-Star Game. I haven’t played with any of the QHS guys, but I’m excited to play with them.

Q: You’re the all-time leading scorer at Payson Seymour. You’re not one to boast your individual accomplishments, but what did that specific accomplishment mean to you?

A: It felt great being up there with all the greats from Payson Seymour. I couldn’t have done it without my teammates and coaches and the community. It feels great being able to say I’m up there. I’m looking forward to seeing what else the younger guys bring.

Q: Were you keeping track of how many points you had? Did you know you were close?

A: I wasn’t aware until Coach (Tyler Duschinsky) mentioned to me in the summer going into my senior year that it was a possibility but not to think about it or anything, just play how I’ve been playing and then I’ll break it. He was pretty confident that I would. It gave me to work for but I also had to be unselfish and play as a team. That helped me a lot. I was aware when I broke it, but the summer before is when I found out.

Q: How were you able to keep that same mentality while that record is in the back of your mind?

A: The first couple games, I thought about it more than I should have. It really bothered me. When we started off the year not playing well, I looked back and thought, “What are we doing wrong as a team, and what am I doing wrong?” I wanted to be more unselfish. We talked about that more, and we were practicing together more as a team, and we started playing better.

Q: Are you a superstitious person?

A: Not really, but I wear the same socks to every game, and I do the same stretches, but I feel like that’s normal. And we’d always say a prayer before the game.

Q: Where would you like to work after college?

A: I’d like to be in a fire station in Quincy. I’m not planning on moving away.

Q: Outside of the Showcase, how else are you occupying your summer?

A: A bunch of older guys, we get together and play some open gym games at Payson. Coach Duschinsky lets us in, and sometimes Lance Loos and those guys all just get together and play. I also mow and landscape. I stay pretty busy.

Q: When basketball season rolls around, is it going to be weird not preparing for another season?

A: The guys already started doing some summer stuff, and it’s like, “Dang, I’m not going to be playing that again.” It’s kind of hitting me now, but it’s really going to hit me harder during the season.