16 Collinsville athletes signed letters of intent to attend universities around the country during the 2017 National Signing Day.
Ten of those 16 athletes were from girl’s soccer coach Clay Smith’s program.
“There are several things I have been able to take away from the Collinsville soccer program and it’s definitely always being humble to what you believe in and pursuing what your passion is. For me – soccer,” Devine said.
Athletics have helped several students achieve their post-graduate goals in higher education while pursuing their athletic endeavors.
“Playing soccer has helped me in advancing my education by being able to receive a scholarship from McKendree University,” Devine said.
For basketball player Kenrique Brown, of Collinsville, it has also opened the door to a university – Greenville College.
“I’m excited and relieved,” Brown said. “I chose Greenville because it’s not too far from home and because the basketball program there is phenomenal.”
Working with athletic director and boy’s basketball coach Darin Lee has been essential to his success according to Brown.
“I’ve been able to learn about managing my responsibilities on and off the court during my time at Collinsville,” Brown said. “It’s about being a grown up – being a man.”
These students are to be proud of, according to Collinsville athletic staff.
“I’m just proud that we have a lot of great student athletes here,” Lee said. “They’re going to a lot of different schools large and small and as athletic director; it makes us proud to see them succeed.”
“I’m just extremely happy for these student athletes, this is an important milestone for them that has resulted from a lot of hard work in the classroom as well as on the field,” Collinsville High School principal David Snider said.
Find the list of signings below:
BOYS SOCCER
Brett Niedzwiecki – McKendree
GIRLS SOCCER
Emily Holten – Mississippi
Andrea Frerker – SIU Edwardsville
Dayle McEwen – Francis Marion
Morgan Lerch – Jacksonville State
Alynnah O’Leary – McKendree
Tayler Devine – McKendree
Danielle Knutson – McKendree
Kaylee McSpadden – Maryville
Bianca Cortez – Southwestern Illinois
Alex Deluca – Southwestern Illinois
HOCKEY
Zach Stenger – McKendree
Jacob Scrum – McKendree
FOOTBALL
Trevore Sanders – UCM
Sean Bonham – McKendree
BASKETBALL
Kenrique Brown – Greenville
