15 senior athletes were recognized as they signed to various colleges  Feb 1. The ceremony consisted of a range of athletes who received scholarships for their academic and athletic performances.

The event lasted about an hour with coaches, parents and friends present to show support. Interim Athletic Director Sweeney La Barge helped run this ceremony.

“[The athletic signing is] a ceremony to recognize our student athletes that are going to play any level of sports in colleges,” La Barge said. “It’s a national day, so many schools recognize their athletes as well.”

At the ceremony, the students signed their National Letter of Intent. By signing an NLI, the student-athlete agrees to attend the college or university for one academic year.

“[The student athletes] are willing to put in the extra hours to be an athlete, as well as a student in college,” La Barge said. “It’s just another way to recognize the diverse group of students that do many different types of things in our school.”

During the event, coaches celebrated the success of these seniors and recognized their accomplishments by speaking a little bit about the athlete. Senior Zachary Bush, who has been playing football for ten years, is happy to get the opportunity to play football at the next level.

“I’m proud because I’m excited to say I got a full scholarship for college,” Bush said.

Senior Neely Lochmoeller, who has been playing field hockey since the second grade, intends to continue on in her sport at Miami of Ohio University where she plans to study business.

“[My biggest hope is to] win anything big in this sport [at college],” Lochmoeller said. “Maybe win a conference championship, or a national title.”

Other athletes include: Zach AbuAwad– Delaware, Rowing; Reilly Ahearn– University of Missouri Saint Louis, Golf; Ty Buckner– Missouri State, Baseball; Zach Bush– Garden City Community College, Football; Chino Davis– Truman State, Football; Nathan Degraw– Southern Virginia, Football; Kinder Jones-Transylvania, Golf; Olivia Jones- Cleveland State, Softball; Taylor Korte– Tufts, Swimming; Neely Lochmoeller– Miami of Ohio, Field Hockey; Tyler Love– McKendree, Football; Melissa Melnick- Northwestern, Swimming; Jordan Neier- Culver-Stockton, Football; Charlotte Taylor– Clemson, Rowing; Shawe Watkins– George Washington, Rowing.