Seven Center Grove athletes bound for Division I programs headline the list of local high school students signing collegiate letters of intent this month.
Cassidy Hardin, who is leading the Trojans into Saturday’s Class 4A girls basketball regional at Columbus North, signed to play at Purdue beginning next season.
Noah Gillard and Sam Jean are headed to Illinois and Cincinnati, respectively, after helping Center Grove win its first state boys golf championship in June.
Isabella Schoolcraft, who partnered with Hardin to win the state doubles title last spring, will play tennis at Valparaiso, while Jordyn Rudd signed to play softball at Northwestern.
The Trojans’ volleyball team had three college signees: Devynn Merriman (Indiana State), Ellen LeMasters (SIU-Edwardsville) and Emma Jones (University of Indianapolis). LeMasters was the Daily Journal Player of the Year in the fall.
Also signing at Center Grove on Wednesday were a quartet of football players bound for Taylor University: Brad Boswell, Justin Tolle, Tyler Watson and Cole Williams. Braxton Gentry will head to Campbellsville University in Kentucky to play women’s soccer.
Greenwood’s Kayla Rance, a two-time Daily Journal Player of the Year in girls soccer, signed with Walsh University in Ohio.
Other Woodmen signing on Wednesday included T.J. Bass (Taylor baseball); Conner Battinau (UIndy football); Ethan McClain and Andy Pollert (Franklin College football); Ethan Pine (Wabash cross country/track); and Samantha Loudermilk (DePauw swimming).
Jacob Gray, an All-County pick in boys tennis, will sign to play at Grace College next Monday.
Whiteland running back Ryan Hammond signed on to play football at the University of St. Francis in the fall, while at Franklin, Rilee King signed earlier this month to play softball at Chattanooga State Community College.
Greenwood Christian sophomore Cameron Northern signed to play women’s soccer at Huntington University beginning in 2020. Athletes do not need to wait until their senior year to sign with NAIA colleges.
