CARLISLE – Shortly after signing her letter of intent to play for Iowa State women’s basketball, Carlisle High School senior Macy Comito grabbed her phone and read off a text from Cyclones coach Bill Fennelly.
“Go Cyclones, officially official-welcome to the family,” Comito read.
Comito's family will be a big part of the Iowa State community. The Carlisle guard, along with her cousin Mallie Stoner, both signed letters of intent to play for the Cyclones. Comito will be a basketball player, while Stoner will play softball.
"I could not be more thankful for this opportunity, especially going through this with her," Comito said.
Stoner hit .446 with five doubles and went 14-6 with four saves and a 2.17 ERA last season. Comito averaged 18.6 points, 4.8 rebounds and 4.9 assists per game as a junior.
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Both have had their sights set on becoming Cyclones for a long time. The duo grew up as Iowa State fans. Stoner’s dad went to Iowa State. Both of Comito’s parents did as well. Comito’s mom, Alyssa, was even roommates with women’s basketball star Erica Junod in college.
Macy Comito combines her love of basketball and Iowa State with plans to play for Cyclones
Macy Comito quickly became a fan of Iowa State sports as well. She grew up going to Iowa State sporting events. She became such a big fan of the Cyclones that shortly after receiving her offer to play at Iowa State, she committed.
Her skillset and passion for Iowa State made her a promising prospect to Fennelly.
“If you cut her, it’s cardinal and gold,” Fennelly said.
The fandom took on new heights with her cousin being recruited by the Cyclones as well. The two were not only close friends but fellow fans of the Cyclones. So, naturally, they did their signing day ceremony together.
The two welcomed friends, family and teammates to the Carlisle basketball gym on Nov. 12 for a ceremony. Comito and Stoner donned Iowa State sweatshirts and had cardinal and gold balloons at a table as they posed for pictures.
“We’ve taken every step in our life together, so taking this big step ahead is really special to do it together,” Stoner said.
Comito, who checks in at 5-foot-9, set Carlisle school records for points in a game (39), single game field goals (15), season points (509), season scoring average (22.1 points per game) and season field goals (183).
As a sophomore, Comito tallied 22.1 points, 7.2 rebounds and 4.9 assists per game. She was awarded with All-State, all-region, all-district and unanimous all-conference honors.
“I’ve been waiting for this moment,” Comito said.
So has Fennelly, who said the plan is for Comito to be the lone member of the team’s 2026 freshman recruiting class. The coach raved about Comito’s versatility on the floor.
“She can score it, can pass it, can guard it,” Fennelly said.
“She's got a really unique skill where she’s right-handed, but she can throw a ball like 60-feet with her left hand in transition.”
The plan is for Comito to arrive in Ames sometime over the summer. Fennelly said he’s typically tried to have a player like Comito, devoted not only to the game of basketball but to the Cyclones, on his roster.
“There’s something about having a kid like that on our team,” Fennelly said. “Other kids, they like it and they get recruited, whatever. But there’s some that are just different when you’re born to be at a certain place and you want to be there and you want to engage in that and do things the right way day in and day out. I’m positive that’s what she’ll add for us.”
Tommy Birch, the Register's sports enterprise and features reporter, has been working at the newspaper since 2008. He's the 2018, 2020 and 2023 Iowa Sportswriter of the Year. Reach him at [email protected] or 515-284-8468.