Today was national signing day. For most people, that's not a big deal, but for high school athletes considering playing their sport(s) in college, it is.
I was lucky today. Seward High had eight kids sign letters of intent. Now, that's not everyone from SHS who's going on to play in college, but I don't remember a day with that many kids signing since I started covering SHS sports back in the dark ages. Adam Holtorf will play football at Kansas State. Reid Karel and Ben Klenke have chosen UNL to walk on in the football and baseball programs, respectively. Seth Majerus is headed down the road to play football at Crete, and Owen George is going the other direction to play the other football - soccer at Hastings. Cale Wagner is going to Colorado School of Mines to play football. Angel Roth plans to go to Oklahoma Wesleyan and run track and cross country, and Makenna Volzke signed to play volleyball right here at Concordia.
Like I said, I know there are others who signed earlier or who haven't made their final choice yet.
Of course, the most important part is that they've chosen their colleges, and most have decided what they want to major in. I got a chance to talk to most of them this afternoon, and they're all excited about playing in college.
I'm excited, too. One of the perks of my job is watching athletes improve their skills and become better players. I love watching the light come on and everything come together. Every athlete has their own timeline, but when it clicks and suddenly everything they've practiced makes sense, seeing that confidence level skyrocket is awesome.
When those athletes choose to continue playing their sport at the college level, that's a bonus. Not everyone chooses to participate in sports in college, and that's OK. College should be for studies (shocking, I know) and for growing and becoming a productive member of society. Those kids who continue with athletics have an extra layer of work thrown in. Most of the kids I know who play sports in college are top-notch kids, and this group of Seward Bluejays is no exception. I'm sure we'll hear great things about them as they continue their athletic careers. And we'll hear even greater things about them when they enter the workforce and find success there, too.
Best of luck to all of you, and I look forward to watching your continued improvements on the playing field. Be warned, though - if you become as good as I think you can be, I may be calling you for an interview.
