The Nation Ford Falcons had 14 student-athletes put pen to paper at one of their largest signing days ever Wednesday.
Nation Ford’s signing had athletes from baseball, basketball, track, boys’ and girls’ soccer, boys’ lacrosse and football. Track had the most with four, football had three, soccer had three, lacrosse had two and both baseball and basketball had one.
The Falcons have had 31 athletes sign this academic year to play college athletics.
“It has really been a good year for the athletic program at Nation Ford,” said Falcons’ athletic director Dave Johnson. “This is their moment. We are extremely proud of them.”
Basketball player Jackson Burnham kicked off the signing by committing to Clinton College in Rock Hill.
“He brought a championship mentality to our team,” said Nation Ford head basketball coach Charles Brown.
Hunter Mac was the lone baseball player signing and he committed to play at USC-Sumter.
“He worked hard every day and put in the work,” said Nation Ford head baseball coach Jeff Stack.
Boys’ lacrosse had two players signing with Andrew Coffee going to Piedmont College in Georgia and Hunter Nickola going to Catawba College in Salisbury, N.C.
Nation Ford head boys’ lacrosse coach Cory Turner said that both athletes are special.
“Andrew has been a tremendous asset to the program,” Turner said.
Turner added that Nickola has been playing on the varsity level for four seasons and has been key to the Falcons’ success.
“I knew he would be tough in handling the process,” he said.
The two girls’ soccer players, both going to Guilford College in Greensboro, N.C., are Ashlyn Kahre and Karly Griffin.
“I am incredibly proud of them,” said Nation Ford head girls’ soccer coach Khrys Dundr. “Any record there is that we have broken, they have been a part of it.”
The boys’ soccer player heading to Pfeiffer University in Charlotte, N.C. is Eric Funny.
“It has been a pleasure to be around Eric,” said Nation Ford head boys soccer coach Kenny Halas. “He is going to thrive at Pfeiffer.”
The Falcons football team had three players signing with both Mitchell Ladamus and Braydon Flores going to Hampton-Sydney College in Virginia. Ben Wakefield is going to the University of Chicago.
“These guys represent what you want to play in college,” said Nation Ford head football coach Michael Allen. “It is hard to elevate from high school to the next level and these guys did it.”
The largest group to sign was four track athletes, who mostly run short distance. Xavier Dixon is going to Benedict College in Columbia, S.C.; Cam Glover is going to Francis Marion University in Florence, S.C.; Jeremiah Hailstock is going to Catawba College and Zayne Grimsley is going to Goldey Beacom College in Delaware.
“All of them are kids I never had to get on,” said Nation Ford track coach Mica McCoy. “They are hard workers. You can’t replace these guys.”
Mac Banks: mac@fortmillprepsports.com, @fortprep
