A signing ceremony was held for students who were signed to play college sports November 15th. Five students signed in total, with Deanna Saunders and Jodi Dehart going to play softball, Cody Pike and Kameron Wheeler playing baseball, and Cody Collinsworth playing college basketball.
“It takes a great deal of commitment to play college sports,” head softball coach Meridith Grant said. “You go there because you are passionate about it, but since they are paying for your education then they are expecting you to play at the highest level that you can.”
There has been a incredibly long process that has been undertaken to get this far in each of their careers. With just seven percent of all high school athletes going onto play any level of college sports, the odds were not on the side of the athletes.
“Typically the percentages of athletes to actually be able to go on and play college baseball or any sport is incredibly low,” head baseball coach Rich Sanguinetti said. “It is a blessing for these students that have worked extremely hard to have the opportunity to go on to the next level.”
The students have been playing their respective sport for at least the duration of high school, but it goes much farther for most of them. Many of them spend late nights honing their skills, but college sees this and takes it to the next level.
“This group of seniors I have had as long as I have been here, since I came here four years ago,” Sanguinetti said. “It has been really amazing to see this group since they were freshmen turn into what they are now, that being incoming freshmen in college”
While the opportunities and areas vary greatly between those from Lindale who have signed, many have a similar goals. They want to take their experience from the university that they are going to play at and maybe take a shot at the big leagues.
“My main goal is definitely making it to the NBA,” senior Cody Collinsworth said. “I chose Portland, because they really took me under their wing and told me all that I would really need to have the future that I want.”
Not only is a lot expected of these athletes whenever they finally arrive on campus grounds, but there has been a incredibly long process that has been undertaken to get this far. They have undergone the process of becoming a successful high school athlete, and now they are all on the road to becoming one in college.
“While it is going to be a lot of work, I am driven by what is to come for me the team that I have to come,” senior Kameron Wheeler said. “I really liked the campus and felt as if it was the best next step for me as a person and athlete.”
