What’s next for local athletes
BADIN
Sydnee Fields, soccer, Xavier
FAIRFIELD
Arryn Chenault, football, Cincinnati
Justin McCray, football, Tennessee-Martin
Kaitlyn Braunig, soccer, Indianapolis
Andrea Curry, soccer, Western Kentucky
Lauren Hettinger, soccer, Cincinnati
Kiersten Ottaway, soccer, Western Kentucky
HAMILTON
Darius Gilbert, football, Bowling Green
Todd Dockery, football, Georgetown College
LAKOTA EAST
Corey Keebler, football, Cincinnati
Pedro Powell, football, Notre Dame College
Matt Luers, Dayton
Abby Buns, soccer, Air Force
Abbie Schauble, soccer, Ohio Northern
Sammi Miller, soccer, Wilmington
Kaitlyn Buczek, soccer, Cincinnati
LAKOTA WEST
David Burke, football, Butler
Jordan Hicks, football, Texas
Brandon Neal, football, Ball State
Obi Nwankwo, football, Tennessee-Martin
Kevin Schloemer, football, Cincinnati
Terrance Shipmon, football, Kentucky Wesleyan
Alex Smith, football, Kentucky
Jordan Thompson, fooball, Youngstown State
Nick Hagglund, soccer, Xavier
Brittany Wilkerson, soccer, Lee University
MIDDLETOWN
Caleb Watkins, football, Bowling Green
Nick McKnight, football, Bowling Green
Jerry Gates, football, Bowling Green
Antonio Banks, football, Indiana
Rashad Frazier, football, Purdue
Sam Current, football, Western Illinois
Eric Redding, football, St. Joseph’s College
Kevin Watts, football, Youngstown State
Sandon Fingers, football, Campbellsville
Aaron Lewis, football, Campbellsville
WEST CHESTER TWP. — The Greater Miami Conference held its annual football signing day event Wednesday, Feb. 3, at the Savannah Center, paying tribute to another impressive class of student-athletes.
This year’s collection of talent featured 33 players from eight GMC schools who will be attending four of the six BCS conferences and dozens of other colleges across the region.
“As the years roll on, you can watch any number of college football games on Saturdays and see GMC players out there,” said GMC President Stu Eversole. “It’s always fun to see our guys do well, and I know these guys will continue to do so.”
Middletown led the way with 10 signees, while Lakota West had eight. Lakota East (three), Hamilton (two) and Fairfield (two) also were well represented.
“I feel like a proud parent ready to send these guys off to the next level,” West coach Larry Cox said. “I love this league and everything it represents. I tell everyone I meet it’s the best league in the state of Ohio, and there’s a reason for that. It’s because of these athletes you see here today.”
Lakota West’s Jordan Hicks (Texas), Kevin Schloemer (Cincinnati) and Alex Smith (Kentucky), Middletown’s Rashad Frazier (Purdue) and Antonio Banks (Indiana), Fairfield’s Arryn Chenault (Cincinnati), Lakota East’s Cory Keebler (Cincinnati) and Princeton’s Spencer Ware (Louisiana State) all signed with BCS conference schools.
“It’s an exciting day,” Chenault said. “It feels good to know all that hard work paid off.”
While most of the athletes talked about being excited to play at the next level, Eversole made a point to remind them what really is at stake in college.
“You’ve been given a special opportunity to show your talents on another stage, a higher stage,” Eversole said. “But you’ve also been given an opportunity for a college education, and that’s something nobody can ever take away from you, whether you play one day or four years of football. And that education will open a lot of doors for you when your playing days are over.”
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