RHS held a signing ceremony for five student athletes who will be playing sports at the collegiate level as a way of honoring the players for their hard work.
“Many athletes dream of playing sports at the collegiate level, but these athletes put in the hard work and dedication to get there,” said RHS Athletic Director and Head Football Coach Jacob Campsey. “I’m proud of them and wish them the best in their futures.”
The athletes, accompanied by their families and friends, gathered at Tiger Stadium to sign up for their future destinations last Tuesday.
Due to the rules of the UIL, coaches were required to wear masks and stand six feet away from the students to prevent any infections from COVID-19. Each chair in the audience had six feet of space between them. The date for signing day
The date for signing day was Feb. 5 and traditionally it takes place in the RHS gym, but RHS athletes did not start getting recruited until after signing day.
“This was planned last because we didn’t think we would be able to have one at all due to COVID, so we planned it fast so each kid could be recognized,” Campsey said. “We usually have a signing ceremony for each kid that commits, so sometimes we’ll have five or six signing days a year, but I’m looking into changing that in the future.”
During the ceremony, Campsey spoke about the rarity of high school athletes signing to play sports in college and praised the individuals for their hard work.
The athletes who signed were:
Levi Baggerly—Baggerly signed to play football at Defiance College in Defiance, Ohio. He played varsity for three years at both cornerback and safety for the Tigers.
“I committed to Defiance because Coach Shank really made me feel at home. He was always calling or texting asking how I’m doing. It just showed me how much they wanted me.”
Qua’Shawn Crawford—Crawford signed with Southwestern Assemblies of God University (SAGU) in Waxahachie. Crawford ran track for the Tigers for two years. He competed in the state track meet as a junior running the 4x100M relay. This year’s track season was cut short due to the coronavirus pandemic.
“I committed to SAGU because it’s a great opportunity,” Crawford said. “It’s close to home and family and a great school.” Ethen Hughes—Hughes
Ethen Hughes—Hughes signed to play football with Defiance University in Defiance, Ohio. He played outside linebacker for the Tigers. He will play safety at Defiance.
“I chose Defiance because they have a great football team and a great business program that will help me launch my career.”
Kaden Kruse—Kruse signed to play football at Wayland Baptist University in Plainview. In his final year, Kaden started varsity for the Tigers. Coaches said he worked hard during this last year with the Tigers and all his efforts paid off.
“I have a great relationship with the coaches, and I feel like I would have a good chance to play once I get there.”
Andrea Salazar—Salazar signed to play basketball at Schreiner University in Kerrville. During her time with the Lady Tigers, Salazar was named first Team All-District, Academic All-State and Team Offensive MVP during her Senior Year. Salazar gave an emotional thank you to her family and friends during the ceremony.
“Schreiner University felt like the best fit,” Salazar said. “The atmosphere there was fun. Even after my foot injury, Coach Davidson reassured me that she wanted me to play for her school.”
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