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Nine Blue Springs South student-athletes joined the legions of prep stars across the country in inking their national letters of intent Wednesday on National Signing Day.
At the Hall of Fame room at Blue Springs South High School, seven members of the Jaguars’ state-champion football team, one member of South’s record-setting volleyball squad and one girls soccer standout finalized where they’ll play college ball.
“There aren’t very many student athletes that are able to go on from high school and play at the collegiate level,” said South activities director Mark Bubalo, in front of a room full of teachers, friends and family members of the eight signees. “So it is a very extraordinary accomplishment. ... Like we say every year to you, ‘Once a Jaguar, always a Jaguar.’”
Of the seven football players, four will continue their careers with a high school teammate by their side. Running back/defensive back Steven Sullivan and Tyler McKnight will attend and room together at NCAA Division II Pittsburg State. RB/defensive end Levi Riley and OL/DL Trevor Wescott will attend the University of Sioux Falls, a Division III school in South Dakota.
Connor Harris, the Jaguars’ do-everything quarterback/safety/kicker/punter, signed with D-II Lindenwood in St. Louis. Fullback/linebacker Casey Sudhoff will head to D-II Northwest Missouri State and lineman Clayton Lewis will suit up for NAIA Baker University.
Outside hitter Kelsey Wagner, who helped the Jaguars to a program-best 25 victories, inked a letter of intent to Avila.
Kelly Vogt, one of South’s top girls soccer players, signed a letter to play at Wayne State but will hold a formal signing ceremony in the spring.
Every athlete admitted some difficulty in coming to their final decision, but each also expressed confidence that they’d made the best possible choice.
“It was honestly a really stressful time with all these schools cluttered in and having to pick which one you really love,” said Sullivan, who rushed for 1,577 yards and scored 21 touchdowns in his senior season. “I had to have that connection. ... It was just something in your gut. Something you have to feel to know.”
A common theme emerged in each football player’s decision-making process. They wanted a program similar to the one at South. That means family-focused. And successful.
Harris had offers from Division I schools, but was swayed by Lindenwood in part because he has several family members living in St. Louis.
Nine Blue Springs South student-athletes joined the legions of prep stars across the country in inking their national letters of intent Wednesday on National Signing Day.
At the Hall of Fame room at Blue Springs South High School, seven members of the Jaguars’ state-champion football team, one member of South’s record-setting volleyball squad and one girls soccer standout finalized where they’ll play college ball.
“There aren’t very many student athletes that are able to go on from high school and play at the collegiate level,” said South activities director Mark Bubalo, in front of a room full of teachers, friends and family members of the eight signees. “So it is a very extraordinary accomplishment. ... Like we say every year to you, ‘Once a Jaguar, always a Jaguar.’”
Of the seven football players, four will continue their careers with a high school teammate by their side. Running back/defensive back Steven Sullivan and Tyler McKnight will attend and room together at NCAA Division II Pittsburg State. RB/defensive end Levi Riley and OL/DL Trevor Wescott will attend the University of Sioux Falls, a Division III school in South Dakota.
Connor Harris, the Jaguars’ do-everything quarterback/safety/kicker/punter, signed with D-II Lindenwood in St. Louis. Fullback/linebacker Casey Sudhoff will head to D-II Northwest Missouri State and lineman Clayton Lewis will suit up for NAIA Baker University.
Outside hitter Kelsey Wagner, who helped the Jaguars to a program-best 25 victories, inked a letter of intent to Avila.
Kelly Vogt, one of South’s top girls soccer players, signed a letter to play at Wayne State but will hold a formal signing ceremony in the spring.
Every athlete admitted some difficulty in coming to their final decision, but each also expressed confidence that they’d made the best possible choice.
“It was honestly a really stressful time with all these schools cluttered in and having to pick which one you really love,” said Sullivan, who rushed for 1,577 yards and scored 21 touchdowns in his senior season. “I had to have that connection. ... It was just something in your gut. Something you have to feel to know.”
A common theme emerged in each football player’s decision-making process. They wanted a program similar to the one at South. That means family-focused. And successful.
Harris had offers from Division I schools, but was swayed by Lindenwood in part because he has several family members living in St. Louis.
On his visit, he said he felt at home.
“It was comfortable,” said Harris, who was named The Examiner’s Player of the Year. “Just how (the players) talked to you and hung out with you and everything. I don’t even know how to describe it. I felt right when I was down there.”
The interaction with current players also played a big role in Sudhoff’s decision.
“It was like I had been there the whole time,” Sudhoff said. “The players didn’t look down on us because we were young. They treated me like one of the guys.”
Riley said his choice was heavily influenced by the fact that Sioux Falls was the first program to express interest in him. Plenty of programs came calling later, but Riley rewarded his initial suitor.
“They came to my house the first night they were allowed to,” said Riley, who bolstered the Jags defense with 14 sacks. “Their academics are far superior to any other school that talked to me. It was really an easy decision.”
For McKnight, who along with Sullivan will try to help the Gorillas repeat as national champions in 2012, the biggest factor was finding a community passionate about his sport. He found that in Pittsburg.
“Their whole entire town is just all about football down there,” McKnight said. “The spirit and the atmosphere on Saturday is just amazing.”
College will afford Wagner the opportunity to play for Krista Newman, who Vogt has seen coach the KC Power club volleyball team. Newman is also the coach at Avila, and that familiarity was the biggest selling point for her.
“I’ve been wanting to play for her,” Wagner said. “So when she gave me the opportunity to come play for her I was like, ‘Oh yeah.’ Because I’ve seen her coach and she’s just a great coach.”
