Extending their athletic career

Eight seniors took part in Wednesdays National Letter of Intent  signing day in the library.

Keegan Williams

Eight seniors took part in Wednesday’s National Letter of Intent signing day in the library.

Eight student athletes signed a National Letter of Intent Wednesday morning in the library to continue their athletic career in college.

“What a great experience for our athletic programs to see the hard work pay off,” campus athletic cordinator Chris Burtch said. “And not just the hard work in athletic but the hard work academically because you can’t get the athletic scholarship without the academic end of it. So kudos to our kids and to our coaches, and to our teachers for just preparing these kids for this day and this great opportunity.”

It’s crazy to think that three years ago I started this and now I’m going to run in college, it’s crazy,

— senior cross country runner Josh Akin

The eight seniors include two girls basketball players, Jordan Hamilton and Rebecca Lescay, who signed to Northwestern University and University of Tulsa respectively.

“I’m most excited about the college atmosphere, transitioning into being independent and moving away from home and being off on my own,” Hamilton said. “The tempo is going to be different, and the size of the girls, you’re playing women, everyone you pay is going to be good, so you’re having to give your best and do your best all the time.”

Along with the two basketball girls signing on Wednesday were two girls from the golf team: Darby Deans, who signed with Kansas State University and Loren Matrone with Oklahoma City University.

“I felt that he coach and the teammates and really the goal that I was going to be playing really fit what I wanted when I was looking for colleges,” Matrone said.

In volleyball, four year varsity player Delanie Lewis is heading to Pennsylvania to attend Bucknell University.

“I’m going to Bucknell University and I most excited about getting to meet new people and getting used to the new world outside of Frisco,” Lewis said.

Lewis’ coach, Ui Womble has seen Lewis grow throughout her time on the volleyball team and is excited to see where she will go.

What a great experience for our athletic programs to see the hard work pay off,

— campus athletic cordinator Chris Burtch said

“It’s such a great accomplishment for not just Delanie but also for our program,” Womble said. “That we’re doing things the way we’re supposed to, and that we’re getting kids to the next level.”

On the boys side, baseball players Garrett Crews signed with Weatherford College while Donovan Langston will attend Grayson College.

“I’m going to Grayson because they gave me full ride and their baseball program is really good,” Langston said.

After placing 12th in the regional meet, and preparing to compete in the state cross country meet on Saturday, senior Josh Akin signed with St. Edwards University to run.

“It feels good, I’m ecstatic,” Akin said. “It’s crazy to think that three years ago I started this and now I’m going to run in college, it’s crazy.”