The goal of most every high school student-athlete is to continue their careers at the collegiate level, ideally while getting their education paid for because of it. For the eight seniors who participated in the PHS Early Signing Ceremony on November 9, this dream has now finally become an (official) reality.

The students signed their national letter of intent (NLI) papers to officially commit to playing at their respective universities in an event broadcast by PS4 in a mostly filled auditorium during the conference period.

In order from left to right on the stage, the athletes signing were volleyball athlete Gabrielle Emery, who signed with West Texas A&M University, softball infielder Emily Guadagno (AIC), baseball infielder Trevor Hauver (Arizona State), diver Kaylie Jackson (Brigham Young), outfielder Coleman Roberts (Buena Vista (Iowa), basketball guard Olivia Vernon (Canisius), and shortstop standout for softball Chandler Walter (Utah U). Club gymnast Kaitlyn Yanish joined in the festivities as well to sign for Oregon State University.

Every coach seemed to relish the opportunity to honor their athletes. “[Chandler Walter] is a kid that you have to send home at the end of the day” due to her tenacious work ethic, stated softball Head Coach Rob Hehe.

He also added that Emily Guadagno has a “huge character” and that she always “took all the work that we gave her with a smile.”

Volleyball Head Coach Fred Mann added that Gabby Emery is “a hard worker, she’s a kid who leaves it all out there.”

Kaylie Jackson, who was voted on for the D1 athlete of the year according to her coach, was quick to mention that she was “thankful for all of my coaches.”

Olivia Vernon echoed the gratefulness, using her microphone time to “thank my mom and dad and my siblings for all the support. I’m excited to become a Griffin.”

Her coach Carl Curtis added that Vernon is “a bona fide leader, she’s all about her teammates. She is a tremendous person.”

Baseball Head Coach Damien Tippett took the time to compliment his two signees, but for different reasons. He pointed out that during high school Hauver “put in a bunch of time. Everything he puts his name to he does with pride.”

While Roberts also excelled and practiced hard on the diamond, Tippett pointed out that his most notable asset is that “he is taking four AP classes as a senior,” even asking the sarcastic rhetorical of “who does that?”

And fresh off of a strong year in volleyball, Emery took the time to make sure that she said “thank you to my teammates.”

Mrs Jennifer Burks also mentioned during the ceremony that the group of signees averaged over a 3.0 GPA, with many having over a 4.0.

Burks also added that these athletes “are once a Puma, and always a Puma.”