Bulldog Spotlight – Reis Claybrooke – This Week in Bulldog Athletics

Reis Claybrooke is well-known in the prep golf community. Not only for his elite skills as a golfer, but also for the passion he has for the game and his fellow competitors. He is the reigning New-Gazette Boys’ Golfer of the Year (2023) and has made the News-Gazette All-Area Team each year as a Bulldog (1st team 2023, 1st team 2022, and 2nd team 2021). We will likely see his name once again on the all-area team this year.

2024 season highlights include:

Central Invite Medalist
Urbana Invite Medalist
All-Apollo
IHSA 2A Regional Medalist
16th place at IHSA State Finals

Having known Reis most of his life, there is no doubt he is committed to the activity he is doing. When Reis was younger, he was well-known for his three-point shooting ability. That talent came with hard work and countless hours of perfecting his jumper, even under the lights on his backyard hoop. Claybrooke hit countless clutch buckets all the way through junior high.

That dedication and commitment to excellence transferred easily into golf when he picked up the game in the summer of this 7th grade year. It was the beginning of a journey that would end up culminating with Claybrooke becoming one of the best boys’ golfers in MSHS history.

Golf is a challenging game, mentally and physically. Success is celebrated, and setbacks are opportunities to improve and better yourself. Although Claybrooke hasn’t had a lot of setbacks, he will attest that those setbacks have made him a better golfer and a better person in the long run.

Claybrooke enjoys competing in tournaments and seeing success from his hard work. Whether that was on the summer tour or during the IHSA season. Competitive to the core.

For the record, Claybrooke has four hole-in-ones in his lifetime on the Par 3 course.

When he’s not competing on the golf course, you will likely find him working on his game or working as an employee at Lake of the Woods Golf Course.

The MSHS boys’ golf coach David Sebestik reflects on what it is like to coach Claybrooke:

I got a first-row seat to see Reis fall in love with golf the same way I did many years ago. He would often stay at the course from sun up to sun down, and became a fixture at our facility. Reis’ constant desire to improve led to dozens of swing videos and text messages on a daily basis. He has always been open to feedback and making changes, which is why he was able to drastically improve in a short span. Being his coach the last several years and watching his game develop has been a highlight of my career.

Sebestik continues his thoughts on what Claybrooke has meant to the MSHS boys golf program:

Reis has been a cornerstone of our program for the last 4 years. Our team’s recent success is largely due to his dedication and relentless pursuit of perfection. By elevating his own game, he has created a culture of excellence and inspired his teammates. Reis has set a new standard for our team, which is why he will be remembered as a pivotal player in our program’s history.

Claybrooke has a true passion for the game and strives to be the best he can be. He has been the leader of the program for most of his prep career and has paved the way for success for current and future MSHS boys’ golfers.

Away from competition and the golf course, Claybrooke is a humble and funny young man. Ever since he was just a little Bulldog, he always had a way of making people laugh and was never afraid to talk trash in good fun when needed. The many times I have talked to him, he doesn’t gloat about his performances but is always quick to mention, with honesty, when a round wasn’t that great. Even in the good rounds, he would point out areas where he could improve. Internally, he took a lot of pride in his accomplishments, but externally, he often talked about the success of his teammates and his friends more than himself.

Q & A with Reis Claybrooke: