The 2024 Eau Claire Express roster is filled with several talented players from across the country, but there are two names who are very familiar to the local fanbase. Henry Wilkinson and Gabe Richardson, both current baseball players at the University of Minnesota- Duluth, are originally from Eau Claire, and both remain under contract for the summer with the Express. The return to their hometown has already made for a special summer for the duo.
Both Wilkinson and Richardson grew up going to Express games, but that’s not where
their Eau Claire baseball careers began. For both of them, it started back in high school, at Eau Claire North. They each had incredibly successful seasons with the Huskies, including a 2019 WIAA state championship led by Richardson (2018-2022) and a shutdown season for Wilkinson (2018-2022). This was only the beginning of the road for both players, who would eventually follow each other to Minnesota- Duluth. However, their recruiting for college baseball took very different paths.
A typical recruiting process saw the first of two Huskies become Bulldogs. For
Richardson, academics were the driving factor in his decision.
“I was originally looking towards higher academic schools... I was able to get in touch with coach [Rients] and get on a visit, and I loved it.”
It would not be long before the former teammates would reunite, as Wilkinson would
soon follow, but in a less traditional fashion.
“My story is a little different,” said Wilkinson, in reference to his recruitment. “I was committed to River Falls for basketball... but the thought of college baseball was always lingering in the back of my head.” Wilkinson, who had made an attempt to play college basketball at Minnesota- Duluth, felt like he was between a rock and a hard place. “It was very frustrating.. because at this point I knew I wanted to play college baseball... Thankfully, I played a summer legion tournament and coach [Rients] wanted me to come play, and that was that."
Fast forward three years later, and both Richardson and Wilkinson are thriving at Duluth,
but that would not be the end of their time together. After most college baseball seasons end, coaches will help place their players into summer collegiate leagues. One of the most respected summer collegiate leagues is the Northwoods League. For Wilkinson and Richardson, they both had a goal of returning to their hometown of Eau Claire, and playing for the NWL’s Eau Claire Express.
“I knew I wanted to play for the Express but I didn’t know how to go about it... so I reached out to Dylan [O’Connell’s] dad, who put me in touch with coach Varsho," Richardson said. "We were able to sign a contract and it’s been a dream come true ever since.”
For Wilkinson, his homecoming was more of the same. “Gabe had also signed with the Express ahead of me, and I wasn’t sure where I’d end up... but coach Varsho offered me a temporary contract and I always wanted to represent the Express, so I couldn't turn it down.”
From Eau Claire North, to Minnesota- Duluth, back to the Express, these two ball players
have been with each other every step of the way. From friends to brothers, Richardson and
Wilkinson have become inseparable both on and off the field. This summer, they look to cement themselves among the all-time great baseball players to come out of Eau Claire.
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