Signing Ceremony Held for Future College Athletes

Although most athletes had already signed their national letter of intent, East held a Signing Ceremony on Wednesday, Feb. 12 to celebrate the 10 students who will be playing a sport in college. The national signing day was originally scheduled the week before on Wednesday, Feb. 5, but a snowstorm caused school to be canceled and signing day to be rescheduled. The ceremony was held in the main gym in front of friends, family members and coaches.

“It was really exciting to finally know where I’m going and have everything decided and have the gratifying feeling of playing sports in college,” senior Jessica Young said. Young signed to play ice hockey at Middlebury College in Middlebury, Vt.

Look below for information about each athlete who signed. Information is courtesy of the athletes and the East athletic department.

Name: Dominique Atkinson

Sport: Football

College Attending: Butler Community College

High School Athletic Accomplishments:  1st Team Sunflower League, 1st Team All-State, All Metro Team, Top 100 Seniors in Kansas

Favorite East Memory: The game-winning Hail Mary pass against Olathe Northwest and playing in the state championship game.

Name: Trey Austin

Sport: Baseball

College Attending: Iowa Western Community College

High School Athletic Accomplishments: 2-Year Varsity Letter Winner, Dodgeball Tournament Runner-Up 2

High School Activities: DECA

Favorite East Memory:  Beating SM North on their Senior Day in his junior year.

Name: Savannah Bellem

Sport: Softball

College Attending: Baker University

High School Athletic Accomplishments:  Varsity Softball (3 years), Varsity Volleyball (2 years), Volleyball Sunflower League Honorable Mention, Sunflower League 2nd Team, Volleyball SME MVP, Defender of the Year, Sunflower League First Team

High School Activities: National Honor Society, SHARE Chair

Favorite East Memory: Winning softball regionals in 2012 and 3-man piggy-back rides in junior year.

Name: Ryan Carter

Sport: Football

College Attending: Pitt State University

High School Athletic Accomplishments: Captain of the 2013 Football Team, 2-Year Starter and 3-Year Letter Winner, 1-Year Letterwinner Baseball

High School Activities: 3 Years on Honor Roll

Favorite East Memory: Playing in the state championship 6A football game and being part of a history-making team at SME.

Name: Maty Gray

Sport: Softball

College Attending: McPherson College

High School Athletic Accomplishments: 3-Year Varsity Letterwinner, Leadership Award

High School Activities: SME SHARE Chair for “Walk A Mile in Her Shoes”

Favorite East Memory: Winning Regionals sophomore year, hitting first home run and outrageous dance parties.

Name: Zack Holbrook

Sport: Swimming

College Attending: Iona College

Favorite East Memory: Winning State sophomore year with the record for most team points ever.

Name: Erin McGinley

Sport: Softball

College Attending: University of Kansas

High School Athletic Accomplishments: Softball — 4-Year Varsity Starter, Sunflower League Honorable Mention, Sunflower League First Team, All Metro First Team, Basketball — 3-Year Varsity Letterwinner, Sunflower League Honorable Mention, Topeka Classic All Tournament Team, Emporia State University Team Camp, All Star

High School Activities: National Honor Society, SHARE Exec

Favorite East Memory: “There are too many memories to choose from, high school sports has provided me with so many wonderful opportunities and friendships over these past four years that one memory wouldn’t even begin to sum up the fun I have had.”

Name: Luke Taylor

Sport: Football

College Attending: Baker University

High School Athletic Accomplishments: First Team All Sunflower League, Honorable Mention All-State

Favorite East Memory: Beating Olathe North and going to the state championship.

Name: Gunnar Troutwine

Sport: Baseball

College Attending: Wichita State University

High School Athletic Accomplishments:  3-Year Varsity Baseball Letterwinner, Two-Time 2nd Team All Sunflower League

High School Activities: DECA, SHARE

Favorite East Memory: Beating Lawrence High in the frigid cold his junior year.

Name: Jessica Young

Sport: Ice Hockey

College Attending: Middlebury College

High School Athletic Accomplishments: Soccer — 1st Team All-State Soccer Player, All Region and All-State, 3-Year Varsity Letterwinner, Golf — 4-Year Varsity Letterwinner, Kansas Golf Team State Champion

High School Activities: National Honor Society

Favorite East Memory: Winning the Tier One Elite Hockey League Championship in a 9 overtime game and scoring the winning goal in that game.