Signed, sealed and committed

By: Olivia Morris, Contributing Writer

With proud families, coaches and teammates cheering them on, four senior athletes at Centralia High School (CHS) made their college dreams come true on April 22.

On Signing Day, these students committed to continuing their athletic and academic journeys at the next level. Each signature represented years of early mornings, late practices and extreme passion for their sport. 

Track and cross country has taken Dryst Bostick far and now it will take him even further to Columbia College, where he plans to compete in cross country, javelin and track while majoring in History Education. Bostick’s determination and excellent performance have made him stand out amongst others on his team, and he’s excited to continue pushing his limits both in academics and as a student athlete. 

Rachel Crowe’s unforgettable school spirit and athletic talent have earned her a spot on the collegiate cheer team at Columbia College, where she plans to major in (major). Whether she is leading cheers on the sidelines or performing jaw-dropping stunts, Rachel has been a key part of the CHS cheer program and will continue to bring her high energy to Columbia College this fall. 

Carter Moss will also be continuing his cross country and track journey at State Fair Community College, with the plans to major in Pre-Physical Therapy. Moss states, “I realized it was a possibility to play sports in college when I started to feel growth in myself as a person and an athlete.” His dedication to all of the long practices, early morning runs, and team spirit has earned him a large amount of respect and high results. Moss looks forward to this new experience as it will allow him to meet new people and continue growing as an athlete. 

After years of dominating the mat, Ava Ward is headed to McKendree University to continue her wrestling career. She plans to major in Occupational Therapy while balancing her academics with the intense demands of collegiate wrestling. Ava has left a lasting mark on the girls wrestling program at CHS and is ready to bring that same energy to her college program. 

Whether it is on the field, court, track, or mat, these CHS athletes are ready to represent their future schools. Although they are leaving CHS, they leave behind a legacy of hard work, determination and school pride. Their journeys are just beginning and CHS will be cheering them on every step of the way.