Dozens of local athletes sign NLI to play in college

WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — High school athletes from around the Wichita area signed National Letters of Intent on Wednesday to play their sports at the collegiate level.

Players, coaches, family and friends all joined in on the celebrations. For many, it’s a moment they’ve dreamt about from the beginning.

“Being a little girl, [the] first time I stepped on the field, this is exactly what I wanted. So it feels good to pursue that dream,” said Derby’s Addy Canfield, who signed to play softball at McClennan Community College.

She is one of four Panthers who put paw to paper. Avery Kelley, Kyler Demel and Rylan Syring also made their commitment official.

“We’ve [Canfield and Demel] grown up with each other playing this sport together, and just being at a high level is just going to be crazy, and I’m excited for it,” said Demel.

For Kelley, the decision was well-thought-out.

“I’m a three-sport athlete, so finding the sport that fit me the best, finding the school that fit my academics the best, it’s been a long process, but being able to finally sign and be done with it, it’s super exciting,” she explained.

And Syring is now the first powerlifter to earn an athletic scholarship from Derby.

“It’s truly a blessing to be able to pave the way for young women and young men and just to be able to pave the way for other people,” said Syring.

Over at Wichita Heights, hoops star TJ Williams is keeping his heart and home in Wichita, joining Paul Mills and the Shockers.

“I just couldn’t wait to get here, you know, and real supportive group as you can see, and you know it’s just no place like home,” said Williams.

Andover Central pole vaulter Bryce Barkdull kept the crowd guessing. He first revealed a t-shirt repping Texas Tech before peeling it off to reveal the Jayhawks logo.

The Jaguar already has family ties to the University of Kansas.

“The coach, he coached my dad, and now he coaches my brother and me, and that’s awesome that it’s going to be the whole Barkdull family,” said Barkdull.

At Maize South, Vitor Geromel will be taking his talent to Clemson.

“The coaches are great, the facilities are great, it’s a great team, great school, great campus. I think everything just fits with me. Everything about it just fits really well, so I’m really glad for the opportunity,” said the Maverick, who is fresh off a state championship title on Saturday.

“It felt like the perfect ending. Even though it’s not the end of my senior year, it just felt like the perfect ending of my high school career,” he said, “It’s just an amazing feeling.”

Trinity Academy cross country star Clay Shively will be running with the Lumberjacks at Northern Arizona University.

“There’s so many people in this room that I can say without a doubt that I would not be anywhere near where I am without them, so just for all of these people to be here, I feel really honored by it and really thankful,” said Shively.

Other local signees include:

Maize South soccer Kyndal Ewertz: University of Kansas

Maize South volleyball Camdyn Stucky: University of Tennesee

Maize South volleyball Gracie Morrow: Wichita State University

Goddard Eisenhower soccer Bella Smith: University of Tennessee

Goddard Eisenhower softball Karlee Ford: Iowa State University

Goddard Eisenhower golf Carson Wright: Creighton University

Goddard Eisenhower golf Brody Scafe: Washburn University

Goddard Eisenhower soccer Madeline Bracy: Emporia State University

Goddard Eisenhower soccer Carly Hummell: Northwest Missouri State

Goddard Eisenhower volleyball Langley Barger: Bethel College

Goddard Eisenhower volleyball Kendyll Garner: Avila University

Andale wrestling Owen Eck: University of Oklahoma

Andale cross country Maddy Ralf: Hesston College

Kapaun Mt. Carmel golf Asher Whitaker: University of Oklahoma

Kapaun Mt. Carmel swim Frank Alberti: University of Illinois-Chicago

Kapaun Mt. Carmel basketball Lizzie Romer: University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

Kapaun Mt. Carmel volleyball Jenna Goers: Benedictine College

Hayesville Campus basketball Andrell Burton: Drake University

Hayesville Campus track and field Breana Garrett-Tillemans: Missouri State University

Hayesville Campus golf Kiley Maier: Fort Hays State University

Hayesville Campus softball Abigail Araiza: Arkansas State University -Mountain Home

Hayesville Campus softball Gabrielle Stauffer: Hutchinson Community College

Hayesville Campus softball Taybor Rardin: Independence College

Hayesville Campus volleyball Mya Free: Bethel College

Hayesville Campus volleyball Gracie Beard: Saint Mary College

Wichita Northwest volleyball Nina Mitchell: George Mason University

Wichita Northwest swim Brock Wallace: Cleveland State University

Wichita Northwest cross country Lexi Wimberly: Newman University

Moundridge baseball Ty Rains: McPherson Central College

McPherson soccer Riggs Kuhn: Johnson County Community College

McPherson soccer Baylee Simmelink: Northwest Missouri State

McPherson softball Karter Alvord: Barton Community College

McPherson swim Danica Brunk: Lindenwood University

Little River volleyball Aubrey Olander: Barton Community College

Wichita Collegiate volleyball Kalie Villagomez: Kansas Wesleyan University

Marion volleyball Grace Hett: Wichita State University