GHS News

Left to right: HP Johnson (Longwood), Kylie Frush (Eastern Mennonite), Allison Goodwin (William and Mary), Mikey Toms (Bridgewater), Julian Hogge (Bridgewater), Melody Ferguson (Brevard), Zane Musick-Williams (Cornell), Livvie Cohn (U.S. Coast Guard Acadamy), Carson Brookes (Mary Baldwin).

Left to right: Laura Tobin (Meredith), Mackenzie Smith (Winthrop), Juwan Thornton (Paul D Camp), Makenna Keyes (Eastern Mennonite), Kirkland Owens (Thomas Nelson).

GHS Athletes recognised through "Virtual Signing Day"

Student athletes digitally Sign on to take their skills to the collegiate level

Reporter Maxwell Mountenbelt

As the national lockdown continues, more and more highly anticipated events are "cancelled," and then done through the internet. A very important day in many students’ lives, signing day, has likewise been done through the internet. Signing is when a high school student signs off to play on a college team.

The baseball athletes that have signed are Kirkland Owens and Juwan Thornton. Kirkland played three years of varsity baseball and one year of JV baseball. Kirkland signed to play for Thomas Nelson CC and is majoring in Health Science and Physical Therapy. Juwan played four years of baseball and basketball. Juwan is undecided on his major and has signed to play with Paul D Camp CC.

Some of our basketball athletes have also signed. Makenna Keys, Zebe Rhodes, and Lauren Hall have gone to play girls basketball. Makenna and Zebe have agreed to play at Eastern Mennonite University, while Lauren has signed to play at Mary Baldwin University. All these athletes helped the Lady Dukes compete at regionals this season for the first time in 17 years.

Mackenzie Smith and Laura Tobin have signed to play softball. Laura has signed to play at Meredith College while Mackenzie will play at Winthrop. Laura will be majoring in Business while Mackenzie will be majoring in Biochemistry and minoring in Business.

Soccer athletes Carson Brooks and Melody Ferguson have also signed. Carson will be playing boys soccer at Mary Baldwin and Melody will be playing girls soccer at Brevard. Carson has chosen to major in business economics and Melody will major in criminal justice.

Football athletes Isaiah Lester and Julian Hogge have signed as well. Isaiah has chosen his major of Athletic Training and will be playing at Frostburg State University. Julian has chosen to major in psychology and will play at Bridgewater. Both these 757 All Stars participated in both of Gloucester's historic victories against Hampton over the past two seasons. Head Coach John Scalf, who described Quarterback Lester as a "field general" who "lead the team to our greatest record of all time," wished both his athletes the best in the future.

Livvie Cohn has signed to the US Coast Guard Academy on the swim team. She will be majoring in Marine & Environmental Science. Truly a student athlete, Livvie did four years of varsity swim, one year JV, four years of NJROTC, and was part of the Beta club, NHS and STEM. "[The team] is probably going to be the thing I miss the most when I graduate," Livvie admits, "(I’m planning on stopping by at some point to visit). Everyone is so close and these are the people that I have shared my whole high school experience with—they are like my family. They have seen me at my worst and at my best and I can confidently say that everyone on the team has helped build me in to the person, leader, and athlete I am today." "Though I won’t be there to cheer them on," she continues, "I’m confident that they’ll keep achieving. To the remaining members of my relay team—this was I year that I will never forget, and I hope you won’t either. The things we accomplished together were astronomical and I hope you continue to swim with the passion you had this year during our post-season journey. I look forward to hearing about your accomplishments over your remaining time as a member of the team."

Field hockey had a remarkable presence at signing day, with a whopping seven athletes participating. Allison Goodwin (who received a full ride scholarship to William and Mary), Tally Vaughn (Mary Washington), Farren Winter (Shenandoah University), Kate Neikirk (Vassar College), Kylie Frush (Eastern Mennonite University), HP Johnson (Longwood University), and Ainsley Miller (a field hockey athlete and regional pole vaulting champion who will also be vaulting for CNU's track team.)

Speaking of track, four year track and cross country veterans Mikey Toms and Makala White will be running cross country for Bridgewater College and Virginia Weslyan University, respectively.

Rower Zane Musick-Williams, 2018 world indoor rowing champions and three time Mid Atlantic erg sprint medalist, will be taking his talents to the Ivy league. He will be rowing for Cornell University with an as of now undecided major.

The Gloucester athletics department was happy to acknowledge these amazing student athletes, even if remotely. "We are very proud of you," they tweeted to all our graduating athletes, "good luck!"