West’s 2018 athletic college signing

Friends+and+family+watch++as+seniors+sign+with+colleges+across+the+midwest.

Naomi Walker

Friends and family watch as seniors sign with colleges across the midwest.

Naomi Walker, Reporter

West’s college signing ceremony took place in the cafeteria at 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 2, where 24 seniors signed for their athletic college careers.

“It feels good to know that all my hardwork has paid off after signing,” senior varsity track athlete Savanah Strunk said.

The future college athletes were given invitations to hand out so family and friends could take part in the important moment.

“West pushed me through a lot of adversity really. They showed me how to get through the hard times and made me who I am today,” senior varsity football player Derrick Olcott said.

Cookies and refreshments were offered to all in attendance during the event.

Senior Aaron Gilliland started cheer his junior year of high school. He is now continuing his athletic career at Iowa Central in Fort Dodge, Iowa.

“I have to leave Jul. 20 for practices, and then I come back in August for a week or two. Then I have to go back for tour days,” Gilliland said.

Strunk will attend Monmouth College in Monmouth, Illinois to further her track career. She started track while she was in seventh grade and has stuck with it ever since.

“I decided on Monmouth about a month ago. I just really liked the campus itself, the coaches, and the players that I met there,” Strunk said.

Olcott is attending Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa to continue his football career. He started football three years ago and plans to keep going.

“They [Loras] were initially my first choice but they have always looked out for me and wanted what was best for me, so I decided to choose them,” Olcott said.


College signing day 2017-2018

Football

Riley McIntyre – Wartburg College

DJ Mosley – Minnesota State University, Mankato

Jacen Petersen – St Ambrose University

Derrek OlcottLoras College

Dance

Ciara Klinghammer– St. Ambrose University

Baseball

Trevor Burkhart-Parkland CC

Clayton Nettleton- University of Iowa

Connor Saul-John Wood CC

Peyton Young – John Wood CC

Noah McCreary – John Wood CC

Kyle Oberbroeckling – Wartburg College

Girls Soccer

Taylor Groharing-Clarke University

Softball

Bailey Poston-Coe College

Jayme Finn-Kirkwood Community College

McKenna Rommel-Sauk Valley Community College

Cheer

Aaron Gilliland – Iowa Central Community College

Ricky Vance – Iowa Central Community College

CJ Busch – St. Ambrose University

Swim

Courtney Schaeffer-University of Northern Iowa

Volleyball

Hannah Jones – Monmouth College

Sara Weisrock – Blackhawk College

Boys Basketball

Balene Mitchell- Mt. Mercy University

Boys Cross Country

Andrew Wright- Missouri Western State University

Girls Track

Savanah Strunk-Monmouth College