Smith to play football at Hutch
Shane Smith didn’t take much time determining where he would like to play football.
Once Hutchinson Community College started recruiting him, the first school to do so, Smith was on board. Smith signed a letter of intent Wednesday.
“They have nice facilites and a good coaching staff,” he said. “I like it a lot.”
Hutch first started watching Smith at a team camp during his junior season. Smith said the Blue Dragon coaching staff primarily will use him at linebacker. Smith may also get playing time as an H-back and tight end.
Smith earned all-Ark Valley- Chisholm Trail League Div. III second- team honors as a linebacker and tight end this past football season.
Train signs to play with Grizzlies
Heath Train has been waiting for this moment a long time.
“Since I was born, I was always around Butler football, as a kid,” Train said. “Now I get to be a part of it.”
Train signed to play with Butler Community College Wednesday as tight end and possibly punter. The Grizzlies have won five national titles in 12 seasons.
Train was an all-Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail League Div. IV first team punter and tight end and second team defensive end. He earned Class 4A honorable mention as tight end at defensive end.
Train was nominated to the Kansas Shrine Bowl and helped the Rockets to a 10-2 season, tied for best in school history. He made 22 receptions for 226 yards and a touchdown. He had 42 tackles and 3.5 sacks on defense and averaged 40 yards per punt.
“Academically, they had what I wanted. It’s closer to home,” he said.
Train plans on majoring in Fire Sciences.
Braddy signs to play volleyball
If there were three things Douglass senior Alexis Braddy wanted in a school, Oklahoma Baptist University had them.
“I already wanted to go to school there because of the religion they have at that school,” Braddy said. “It also has the oldest nursing program in the state of Oklahoma, and I want to be a nurse.”
After signing a letter of intent, Braddy now will be playing volleyball there, too. Braddy tried out for the team in January and was recruited two days later.
“Once I got there, my dad and I were driving around, and he goes ‘This is where you’re going to go to college,’ and I said ‘Yeah, it is,’” Braddy said.
Braddy had a 153 kills, 229 digs and 303 assists as a setter and hitter last season. She made second team all-Central Plains League.
Haworth joins Southwestern College football team
Ethan Haworth, a senior lineman on Bluestem’s football team, signed a letter of intent to play with Southwestern College Wednesday on national signing day.
Haworth played on both the offensive and defensive lines and was the longsnapper for punts on special teams.
“Haworth was an asset to the football team and worked and played hard,” Bluestem coach George Stewart said. “...This signing fulfills a longstanding dream of Ethan’s, to play college football. The Buhler coaching staff wishes Ethan the best of luck at Southwestern.”
Ethan’s parents are Nicole and Kelly Haworth.
Other signings
-Andover Central’s football team had two players sign to play at a college next season.
Tim Rockett signed to play at defensive back for Hutchinson Community College. Grant Trembly also signed to play at Southwestern College at the wide receiver position.
-Rose Hill's Tyler Shirley committed to play basketball at Southwestern College. Shirley played football and currently plays basketball for the Rockets.
-Three Rose Hill softball players - Molly Baker, Alyssa Drosselmeyer and Courtney Rash - signed letters of intent to play in college. Baker, a catcher, will play for Pratt. Drosselmeyer, an outfielder, and Rash, an infielder, both will play at Cowley.
