Childhood cancer survivor makes Sweetwater County history with college signing

Trip Baker, a senior at Black Butte High School, became the first in school and Sweetwater County history to sign a national letter of intent to play collegiate lacrosse. Last month, Baker was joined by loved ones to make his commitment to Midland University in Nebraska official.

“It feels amazing. Lacrosse has kind of been like a build for me. It’s helped me push me to do good in life,” Baker said.

When he was just 7 years old, Baker was diagnosed with leukemia. He said that the way he grew up and the people around him helped him during that time in his life.

Two years after his diagnosis, he was given the “thumbs up” and has been cancer free for almost 10 years now.

“I’d say the biggest struggle was getting back into life; my surroundings and everything like that,” Baker said. “I don’t really remember any of it. I do remember the little things that come back to me, I guess.”

He mentioned that going something life-threatening at such a young age has prepared him differently than others his age.

“It has brought me probably the most difficult part you can go through in life, a sickness like that,” he said, noting that he goes in for regular check-ups. “Overcoming something like that just shows that nothing is impossible, and everything is possible.”

After surviving leukemia, Baker turned his focus to lacrosse — a sport loved by the entire Baker family.

“Lacrosse has a lot of heart. The background is just a very inspirational idea. You get to get out on the field and just have fun,” he said, adding that the sport began long ago thanks to Native Americans. “It’s just the cool background of the world.”

Baker said that there was a total of 16 Division-1 college interested in his abilities. He mentioned the recruiting was stressful at times but is excited about what’s next at Midland University.

“When I saw Midland, it kind of just stuck,” he said. “It didn’t leave my head and it felt comfortable. It felt like home.”

Baker is a defensive player, so in his words, he gets “to whack and absolutely destroy people.”

But he also destroys the classroom, sporting a 4.197 GPA. “I stay on top of it because I have family to keep me in check and I just love school,” he said, adding that he plans on going for three degrees in college.

“I plan on studying business and sports management. I am going to try to go for finance and one more.”

Baker thanked many people for helping him get to where he is today, especially his family.

“They’re my main supporters,” he said.

His father, Richard Baker, is an educator at Black Butte High School as well. He called watching his son sign his national letter of intent a “blessing.”

“There’s no way to explain it. As a player and a coach for pretty much my entire life, it was something I always had dreamt of for my kids and the fact that he’s done it and done it in such a way considering everything, it’s just a big deal,” he said.

He also said that this signing is a major accomplishment for Black Butte High School.

“Having a kid accelerate like this and be able to pull off what he has from Black Butte is phenomenal,” he said.