It’s that time of the year again: spring snowstorms, graduation party planning, and for high school athletes, Signing Day.
The best student athletes lead their schools in academics and athletics, and for Conifer High School, a star-studded signing day saw 12 Lobos commit their skills to the next level on April 24.
Families, coaches, teammates and friends cheered, took countless pictures and held back tears as the seniors spoke on their high school experiences and impending futures.
Meet the Conifer athletes preparing for college sports below. All stats from their high school careers can be found at MaxPreps.com.
Eleanor Sikora, Regis University
Sikora is staying close by to play softball at Regis University in Denver.
“I can’t say how grateful I am that I’ll be continuing my academic and athletic career at Regis,” she said to the crowd in the Lobos’ gym. “I want to thank my parents, especially my mom, for always being there for me. My mom has always supported me through every practice, game and long road trip. To (all my coaches), thank you for believing in me and helping me grow not just as a player, but as a person. I wouldn’t be standing here without you.”
Josalyn Lievers, University of Findlay
Lievers is midwest-bound, heading to Findlay, Ohio, to play lacrosse at the University of Findlay.
“I want to thank my family, coaches and teammates who have supported me every step of the way,” Lievers said. “Playing college lacrosse has been a dream of mine for a long time, and today it is finally becoming real. The practices, the tough losses and all the big wins all brought me here.”
Landon Hancock, Colorado State University
Becoming a Ram is a dream for Hancock, the soccer player-turned-lacrosse star for Conifer.
“I’m very excited to continue my athletic career at Colorado State University in Fort Collins,” Hancock said to the crowd. “First, I want to thank my parents for supporting my decision to swap over from soccer to lacrosse. I have not regretted it once in my entire life. I want to thank my coaches for always giving me that reassurance that I’m good enough, I’m skilled enough, that I’m right where I belong.”
Payden Devaney, Lees-McRae College
Another lacrosse standout is headed to Lees-McRae College in Banner Elk, North Carolina.
“I want to thank my coaches for coaching me throughout the years, constantly pushing me to be a better player, a better goalie, a better person,” Devaney said. “I want thank my parents and my family for all the rides you’ve given me, all the money you’ve put into the sport. I just want to thank everybody who has been a part of my academic or athletic career.”
Ben Metzger, Western Colorado University
After dominating on the mat for Conifer for four years, Metzger, a man of few words, is traveling to Western Colorado University in Gunnison.
“I want to thank my mom for supporting me through thick and thin,” he said. “I want to thank all my coaches who have pushed me throughout these four years. I don’t have much to say.”
Kate Horneck, Western Colorado University
Another Gunnison-bound Lobo is Horneck, a record-breaking cross country and track and field athlete for Conifer.
“I’d like to thank my teammates for keeping me going and reminding me every day why I love this sport,” she said to the crowd. “I know the team is in good hands with you all and I’m so excited to see what you guys can accomplish on your own and as a team. I would like to thank all the coaches and mentors I’ve had throughout my athletic journey, both in the physical summer training, but more importantly, by believing in me when I didn’t always believe in myself.”
Rhoan Bruneau, Willamette University
Bruneau is heading to the Pacific Northwest to play soccer.
“I had a really big, long recruiting process,” Bruneau said. “But I really, really liked Oregon and Willamette was one of three schools in Oregon I had offers from, and it was by far my favorite. I loved the coach, I loved the future plan for the team, I also have family close by. And it’s just a beautiful area. The atmosphere is amazing and I feel like it’ll be really good for me to grow there.”
Cassidy Wilson, Colorado State University-Pueblo
Wilson is set to be a Thunderwolf on the lacrosse field.
“I want to say a huge thank you to my family for supporting me throughout my entire lacrosse career,” she said. “I want to thank my mom and dad for always driving me to practices and games, and especially a big shout out to my mom. She was my personal recruiter for college, and I couldn’t have done it without her. I want to thank my teammates. I couldn’t have asked for better people to play with the past four years. This team has helped me become a better person and better player.”
Jesse Nichols, Washburn University
Nichols is headed to Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas, to continue her softball career.
“To all my coaches, thank you,” she said. “Thank you for believing in me, pushing me, and helping me become not just a better athlete but a better person … To my dad, thank you for catching me all these years. You’ve never let me take the easy way out. You’re one of my biggest supporters and most honest coaches and I’ll never forget everything you’ve done for me. To my mom, thank you for being my constant. You’ve been through every game, every tournament … you’re the one behind the scenes, packing the bags and calming me down and picking me back up when I need it most.”
Jacob Johnson, Lawrence University
Johnson will play two sports at the next level — track and soccer — at Lawrence University in Appleton, Wisconsin.
“The first thing that was really important when I went to go visit Lawrence was that everybody was so welcoming,” Johnson said. “The coach of the soccer team… the administration has bent over backwards for me, and that says a lot about the school. I got to see their academics and talk to their professors firsthand … as a college athlete, the college part comes first, and that was really important to me. And then just the opportunity to play soccer at the next level is also important to me. I’m not ready to give up that part of my life yet.”
Benson White, Colorado Mesa University
White is making his way to Mesa, where he’ll run track and field.
“It’s been quite the journey,” he said. “Most of all, I need to thank my parents. My mom has pushed me my entire life. Whether you have a bad game or not, my mom is always there to support me and keep me motivated. My dad brings that motivation in a completely opposite way. Having that balance definitely helped me become the athlete and person that I am.”
Gunnar Forsythe, Rome City Institute
Last but not least, Forsythe is heading across the pond to Europe. Rome, Italy, awaits, where he’ll run track and field at Rome City Institute.
“I want to thank my teammates. Thank you, guys, for just making track such an important sport to me and just making it a place I want to show up to every day,” he said. “Thank you to my parents for always supporting me through all my decisions. Something as drastic as going international … thank you, guys.”
Congrats to all the Lobos taking their game and studying to the next level.