Six students sign to continue athletic career in college
February 3, 2021
Families, teammates, and coaches went to the auditorium and field house Wednesday morning as six students signed their National Letter of Intent, committing to continue their athletic career in college for the second Signing Day of the school year.
Signing her letter of intent, O’Brien Hall committed to Sterling College on Wednesday morning in the auditorium to continue her golf career beginning in the fall.
O’Brien Hall
Wingspan: What school did you choose?
Hall: “I am attending Sterling College.”
Wingspan: What are you expecting from being a college athlete?
Hall: I expect to enjoy the experience and meet new people.
Wingspan: What led you to choose the school you did?
Hall: “I chose Sterling because meeting the coach and seeing the school I just felt at home and I knew I could spend the next 4 years there.”
Wingspan: How long did it take for you to make a decision?
Hall: “I knew once I visited it was the school for me so not long after I made my decision.”
Wingspan: What other options were you contemplating?
Hall: “I knew I wanted to go to a smaller school where I could focus on my education and also enjoy playing golf there but I didn’t care where the location was so I was looking anywhere.”
Wingspan: How do you plan on using the rest of your year to get ready to be a college athlete?
Hall: “I just want to focus on working to get better any way I can while also enjoying my last year in high school.”
Wingspan: What are you most looking forward to in college?
Hall: “I am excited to start becoming more independent and working towards my major and enjoying the college experience.”
Continuing his athletic career at Hardin Simmons University, Evan Hill signed his letter of intent Wednesday morning in the field house.
Evan Hill
Wingspan: What school did you choose?
Hill: “Hardin Simmons University.”
Wingspan: What are you expecting from being a college athlete?
Hill: “I expect there to be some destruction and a lot of time management.”
Wingspan: What led you to choose the school you did?
Hill: .”I chose HSU because when I went on the visit I felt welcomed and big on my major as well.”
Wingspan: How long did it take for you to make a decision?
Hill: “It took me like a month in a half to make the commitment.”
Wingspan: What other options were you contemplating?
Hill: “My other options were Sul Ross and Southern Nazarene.”
Wingspan: How do you plan on using the rest of your year to get ready to be a college athlete?
Hill: “I’m running track right now to keep me in shape for college ball.”
Wingspan: What are you most looking forward to in college?
Hill: “I’m looking forward to meeting new people and making good memories.”
Owen Butcher poses at a table decorated in the University of Evansville gear, where he will continue his soccer career starting in the fall.
Owen Butcher
Wingspan: What school did you choose?
Butcher: “Evansville University”
Wingspan: What are you expecting from being a college athlete?
Butcher: “Expecting to compete at a high level and win games.”
Wingspan: What led you to choose the school you did?
Butcher: “5 months.”
Wingspan: How long did it take for you to make a decision?
Butcher: “I chose Evansville because of the people, coaches and the big conference.”
Wingspan: What other options were you contemplating?
Butcher: “Loyola, Creighton, George Mason, and Elon”
Wingspan: How do you plan on using the rest of your year to get ready to be a college athlete?
Butcher: “Focus on the tasks ahead like right now, focus on making it to the playoffs.”
Wingspan: What are you most looking forward to in college?
Butcher: “To play big teams and to get to know new people.”
Posing with his teammates, Luke Berry signed to continue his athletic career playing soccer at the University of Mary Hardin Baylor.
Luke Berry
Wingspan: What school did you choose?
Berry: “I will be going to the University of Mary Hardin Baylor.”
Wingspan: What are you expecting from being a college athlete?
Berry: “I will be expecting to get a college degree while continuing to get to play the game I love.”
Wingspan: What led you to choose the school you did?
Berry: “My decision was long and hard because I wasn’t sure if I wanted to continue playing soccer but I just don’t see my life without it.”
Wingspan: What other options were you contemplating?
Berry: “Options were just to play or not to play really.”
Wingspan: How do you plan on using the rest of your year to get ready to be a college athlete?
Berry: “I plan on continuing to tone in my skills and get bigger stronger and faster for college next year.”
Wingspan: What are you most looking forward to in college?
Berry: “Looking forward to all the experience I will make and playing with my buddy from middle school who will be going to the same school as me.”
Posing in front of a table of Baylor University gear, Prince Ugoh signed his letter of intent to continue playing football beginning in the fall.
Prince Ugoh
Wingspan: What school did you choose?
Ugoh: “I am signing to Baylor University.”
Wingspan: What are you expecting from being a college athlete?
Ugoh: “I expect every snap, every practice, every workout, and every play to be a chance to obtain and maintain the starting position, on and off the field. I am also expecting a chance to have a bigger platform for social issues that need to be addressed.”
Wingspan: What led you to choose the school you did?
Ugoh: “I chose Baylor number one because of their world renown education, second I chose Baylor because of their great success, history and traditions in football despite Covid-19, and third because of the proximity to my hometown.”
Wingspan: How long did it take for you to make a decision?
Ugoh: “For me it was honestly a no-brainer, I remember as a junior emailing every single football coach at Baylor my film so being able to sign there is a dream come true.”
Wingspan: What other options were you contemplating?
Ugoh: “I was contemplating the University of San Diego.”
Wingspan: How do you plan on using the rest of your year to get ready to be a college athlete?
Ugoh: “I plan on using every available day I have until college working and getting bigger, better, and faster for Baylor so that I have no excuses for failure.”
Wingspan: What are you most looking forward to in college?
Ugoh: “I am most looking forward to the opportunity to prove why I am much more than a number and the opportunity to play on national T.V under the Saturday lights.”
Committing to Princeton University, Connor Hulstein signs his letter of intent to continue his football career at the university beginning in the fall.
Connor Hulstein
Wingspan: What school did you choose?
Hulstein: “The school I chose was obviously Princeton.”
Wingspan: What are you expecting from being a college athlete?
Hulstein: “I’m expecting to do a lot of hard work both in the academic aspect and on the field, but it’ll be a ton of fun.”
Wingspan: What led you to choose the school you did?
Hulstein: “I chose Princeton for many reasons but the main one being it felt like that’s where God was calling me.”
Wingspan: How long did it take for you to make a decision?
Hulstein: “From my first offer to my commitment was around 3 months.”
Wingspan: What other options were you contemplating?
Hulstein: “My top 5 consisted of Princeton, Yale, Harvard, UCF, and Northwestern.”
Wingspan: How do you plan on using the rest of your year to get ready to be a college athlete?
Hulstein: “Up until football season I will be pushing myself harder than ever in the weightroom and in my diet to prepare for college football.”
Wingspan: What are you most looking forward to in college?
Hulstein: “I’m looking forward to the competitive environment it’ll bring.”