STUDENT ATHLETE COMMITS

Class of ‘23 athletes taking their athletic and academic careers to the next level

Story by Elizabeth Hare

Alena VelillaBenedictine University for Softball

Senior Alena Velilla committed to Benedictine University with plans to major in architecture. Velilla is looking forward to the family-like team environment and to be in a new place.

“[Benedictine has] a really good architecture program,” Velilla said. “It’s fairly new, but they are published with other schools like University of California Los Angeles’s [UCLA’s]architecture program, and the campus is absolutely gorgeous.”

Aubrey DuncanOklahoma University for Track & Field

Senior Aubrey Duncan signed to officially be on the Oklahoma Sooners track team in December. While Duncan is somewhat new to track, she is excited for the individuality aspect and the next chapter of her life.

Natalie SchmidtbergerWilliam Jewell for Golf

Senior Natalie Schmidtberger started playing golf competitively for Free State, and found a passion for it. Shmidtberger is excited for bigger competition at the collegiate level and spending time with her team.

“I’m excited for what I don’t

“I’m excited to see where it takes me.. If football doesn’t work out, if I don’t go to the league, then I have a Harvard degree in my back pocket.”

“I thought that the coach was very nice and was going to help me the most out of everyone that I met,” Scmidtberger said. “It’s a smaller school. I liked that, it was more intimate. And it’s close to home.”

Spencer DoanHarvard University for Football

Senior Spencer Doan signed to play football at Harvard University, a prestigious ivy league school. Doan plans to major in mechanical engineering and take aerospace classes at Massachusetts Institute of Technology [MIT].

Girls

“I had a great experience on the bowling team because I made so many new friends and enjoyed learning a new skill with them,” junior Ava Gray said.

Boys Wrestling

“They’re [seniors] really an inspiration and getting me excited for my senior year to go in with the mentality to be as good as they are,” junior Braden Byrne said.

“Honestly my favorite part of the season has been the energy and the music and dancing after a win in the locker room,” junior Wesley Edison said.