PANAMA CITY, Fla. (WJHG/WECP) -Wednesday began the early scholarship signing period for high school student athletes, and several seniors in our area taking advantage to sign on day one of this period.
The folks at Arnold watching nine players in four different sports sign athletic scholarship offers, well over 400 family, friends, students, coaches and administrators on hand for this event. That list of 9 starting with three in softball. Outfielders Justice Taylor and Kaylie Mellies both signing with Reid College, a juco in Evergreen, Alabama. Pitcher Breanna Clark, who owns the strikeout record at Arnold, going Division One with Southeastern Louisiana University. Four baseball signings, the first two, outfielder Austin Hendrix and infielder Josh Lindsey both signing with Gulf Coast, so they’ll stay local. And two pitchers, Eli Blair and Cooper Moss both headed to the SEC, signing today with the University of Florida. Zoey Vandel, coming off her senior season in volleyball, signing with Jacksonville University. And Delaney Sieber, a star swimmer at Arnold, signing a rowing scholarship with Saint Mary’s in California. She’s actually getting a scholarship in a new sport for her. All in all, a big day indeed for these student-athletes their families and beyond! Arnold A.D. and head softball coach Rick Green said this shortly after the signings.
”It’s special for Arnold high school too in that it’s historic, it’s the largest signing class we’ve had, I know in the last 17 years. And looking back, it looks like the last 25 years. And to have five Division I athletes in that group of nine it’s amazing to me. And what I’m so happy about is it’s over a wide spectrum of sports. We’ve got nine athletes in four different sports today. We’ve got more coming in December.”
Meanwhile over at South Walton High School four more signings taking place in the auditorium there Wednesday afternoon. Those four all in baseball, starting with Cameron Tipton-Thomas, a pitcher who signed with Troy. Next up, Frank Wells the Seahawks shortstop, who signed an offer today with Georgia Southern. Then comes Charlie Willcox a pitcher who is off to Georgia Tech come the summer. And number four on the list there Braxton Varnes, another pitcher headed to the ACC, Varnes is off the Florida State University. So a big day for South Walton baseball, four Division One signees who all have their senior seasons ahead of them.
“It’s definitely special for South Walton High School you know to have just four commits from one team.” South Walton A.D. Phil Tisa told us. “Yet alone four D1. And it’s a special day for these young men. It’s the culmination of a decade plus of an athletic career.”
One more signing taking place at Bay Wednesday afternoon. Emily Rollins, a senior striker on the Bay girls soccer team signed a scholarship offer with Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, Florida. Emily a four-year starter for the Tornadoes who already has 8 goals in just three matches this season.
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