With the fall sports season over, athletes are declaring where they will be competing in college. From Brigham Young University to Central Arkansas, this year’s senior class exemplifies the diversity of talent and academic prowess found in the Lucas/Fairview area.

“I’m just really excited about the whole experience I’m going to get at college,” BYU track and field commit Kensey Berry said. “Being able to take part in athletics at such a prestigious school gives me and chance to be involved in something that most normal college students would not be able to do.”

For some of these student-athletes, ending their athletic career upon receiving a high school diploma did not sit well. So they decided to attend at universities that will guarantee them a spot to compete rather than a school that matches their academic abilities.

“Running was the biggest factor in deciding where I wanted to go,” UT Tyler cross country commit Matthew Market said. “It is just such a big part of my life and right now I am not ready to let the competitive side of sport go.”

These athletes are put in a tough spot when deciding where they want to go, because this is where they will likely spend their entire college career. But for one athlete the first offer became the last.

“When I first got a letter from them (Northeastern State) I did not take them seriously because I never heard of them before,” soccer commit Rachael Gleason said. “But after taking my official visit there I just fell in love with the university and decided to close my recruitment stage.”

Injuries were an obstacle that derailed Central Arkansas football commit Nate O’Connor from showing colleges his full potential. O’Connor had garnered interest from different D-I schools, but a few serious injuries have limited his time on the field, leading those schools to look elsewhere.

“Right now I could just pout about all the what ifs in my life and just wonder where I could be going if I did not get injured so much,” O’Connor said. “Or I could just look at how blessed I am to receive a chance to go play football at Central Arkansas with my school tuition being paid for.”

The high school athletic careers for these students are drawing to a close, but on the horizon is four years in a whole new environment.

“Excited is all I can say about the next chapter of my life,” Gleason said. “I’m just ready to get out of this little town and go into the real world.”

Signings:

Track/Field and Cross Country:

Kensey Berry (BYU)

Matthew Markert (UT-Tyler)

Football:

Nate O’Connor (Central Arkansas)

Girls Soccer:

Rachel Gleason (Northeastern State)

Swimming:

Emily Nightingale (New Mexico State)

Volleyball:

Nicole Newton (Tulsa University)

Andie Malloy (Iowa State Univeristy)