The Catawba Ridge Copperheads had a record number of signees this week for future college athletes.
Catawba Ridge had 30 student-athletes to sign to play different sports in college on Monday, Feb. 9. The greatest number of signees came from baseball with 10 athletes signing to different colleges. Girls’ lacrosse had four and boys’ lacrosse had three signees. Boys’ soccer, football, track and cross-country, and softball each had two signees. There was also one swimmer, one girls’ tennis player, one boys’ volleyball, one boys’ lacrosse, and one girls’ volleyball player.
“This is a huge accomplishment,” said Allen Runyon, Catawba Ridge Assistant Athletic Director. “It represents the time, effort and determination these athletes put in day in and day out.”
For baseball, signing was James Carlin – Francis Marion University, Tyler Causey – Johnson and Wales University, Alex Downes – Rockingham Community College, Brayden Hughes – Brevard College, Bryce Meil – Wofford College, Zack McMahon – Newberry College, Owen Ostrander – Johnson and Wales University, Jack Shelnutt – Greensboro College, Ryan Stukitz – Clark State College, and Zach Young – Robeson Community College.
“It is always great to celebrate these athletes,” said Catawba Ridge head baseball coach Stas Swerdzewski. “This opportunity you have is a testament to your hard work.”
Signing for girls’ lacrosse was Carleigh Conroy – Lander University, Paige Conroy – Presbyterian College, Selena Davis – Lincoln Memorial University, and Julia McKnight – Southern Wesleyan University.
“They are a big part of what is going to happen this season for us,” said Copperheads’ girls’ head lacrosse coach Pat Gromley.
Signing for girls’ soccer was Brooks Dority – University of Kansas, Lainey Kilpatrick – Lenoir Rhyne University, and Lizzy Sexton – Lander University.
“They are the heart and soul of the team,” said Joe Dority, Copperheads’ girls’ head soccer coach. “They are the engine that drives it.”
Other signees included football players Connor McFadden – Clemson University and Darius Sutton – Wingate University; track/cross-country Aidan Rogers – USC Upstate and Zadie Ann Wilkerson – Coker University; boys’ soccer Nathanael Finley – Lander University and Emmanuel Livingston – Presbyterian College; softball Jaidyn Harris – Furman University and Mia Kovacs – USC Upstate; swimmer Ava Pezzuto – Columbia College; girls’ tennis Skylar White – Huntingdon College; girls’ volleyball Leah Okogbenin – UNC Asheville; and boys’ volleyball player Cole Stukitz – Wittenberg University.
Mac Banks: mac@fortmillprepsports.com, @fortprep
