Eastern Illinois University Athletics

2008: Thyer played in 27 games and started eight times… filled in admirably as the backup catcher… walked more than he struck out, one of four Panthers to accomplish the feat… led the reserves with a .432 on-base percentage… reached base safely to begin an inning 50 percent of the time (6-of-12)… collected four RBIs and scored five runs at home thanks to four sacrifice hits and eight free passes… went 4-for-13 while not striking out in true road action… made the most of his limited playing time in May, going 2-for-6 with two RBIs, four runs scored, five free passes and two sacrifice bunts… was behind the plate for the final out of the OVC Tournament win against Jacksonville State… also caught the final inning and a third of the NCAA Regional game against Oral Roberts… was intentionally walked by ORU in the ninth inning in his lone postseason plate appearance… walked and delivered a two-run single in a reserve roll in the middle game of the Northwestern State series… scored a pair of runs in the win against Monmouth College… put EIU ahead to stay with a two-out, two-run single in the victory over Chicago State… drew four free passes, scored three times, registered a pair of sacrifice bunts and knocked in a run during the Southeast Missouri series… drew a key walk in the ninth of the rubber-game win against SEMO and his pinch runner scored the game-tying run… went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored at Indiana State.

HIGH SCHOOL: Thyer lettered in baseball and football, playing baseball for coach Frank Ganzer, at Andrew High School… All-Southwest Suburban Conference as a senior… also earned a scholar-athlete award… National Honor Society… was a member of a national championship team with the Upper Deck Cougars, a 14U summer-league team based in Palos Park… also played summer ball for the Saints...

PERSONAL: No. 1 sports highlight was delivering a game-winning hit to send the Upper Deck Cougars to the national championship game… his brother has been a major influence on his sports career because "he has always been there to teach me the game"… most admires his former coach Rich Stockwell because "he always positively influenced his players to achieve their best"… son of Tom and Gail Thyer… MAJOR: Kinesiology & Sports Studies.