Representing six different sports, 10 Reed senior athletes made their future athletic plans official at a signing ceremony in the school’s gym on Thursday afternoon.
Four baseball players were included, led by DI North Player of the Year, Austin Beard, who will continue playing at California State – Stanislaus. The Warriors are an NCAA Div. II program located in Turlock, Calif., east of San Jose.
“It’s close to home and I really like the coaching staff there,” Beard said.
Beard chose the Warriors over Central Washington University – another NCAA Div. II affiliate in Ellensburg, Wash.
This spring, he hit. 427 with six home runs, 10 doubles and 26 RBIs. On the hill, he was 5-3 with a 3.32 ERA while striking out 30 and walking only nine.
He plans to pitch and play in the field for the Warriors.
Now former Reed outfielder Tayton Clabaugh signed at Tabor College, and NAIA program in Hillsboro, Kan. Jake Van Tress (catcher) will play at Southwestern Oregon Community College. And Brandon Kernan (outfield) will continue playing ball at the College of Southern Idaho – a community college program in Twin Falls, Idaho.
Girls soccer players Bailey Sambrano and Mckayla Ford committed to Sierra Nevada College – an NAIA program in Incline Village that will compete in its second season this fall.
Pole vaulter Troy Gingerich was the lone athlete in the class who committed to a NCAA Div. I school. He will compete in the Pac-12 at Washington State University.
“It’s a dream come true,” Gingerich said.
At Wazzu, he will be coached by two-time Olympian, Brad Walker. Walker, 34, still holds the United States pole vault record of 19-09.75, which he cleared in 2008.
Gingerich has a personal record of 15-03. He shared the DI North title this year (15-00) and took fourth at state last weekend.
Softball player Mariah Adame committed to Feather River Community College in Quincy, Calif.
Golfer Jayce Robinson will continue golfing at Dominican College – a NCAA Div. II affiliate in Orangeburg, New York, less than 20 miles north of New York City.
Jensen Paris will play volleyball for William Jessup University, an NAIA school in Rocklin, Calif. Paris chose William Jessup over a number of other smaller schools across the western region.
“It feels great (to be committed),” Paris said. “It feels amazing.
“I like that it was close to home and I really like the coach and the atmosphere. The coach was super intense and I can tell she’s going to push me to be better.”
Alex Reyes (soccer) was supposed to sign at Metropolitan Community College – Blue River (Kansas City, Mo.), but was not present on Thursday.
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