MORGANTOWN — On Wednesday, eight Morgantown High athletes signed their letters of intent to continue playing their respective sport next year when they begin college.
A common theme among the signees was how much they felt the sense of “home” when they visited the various campuses, something they all agreed MHS does well as far as feeling like a big family. With a good mix of schools and varying locations (Southern Miss all the way to Colgate in New York), it was clear that the MHS athletes each thought long and hard about the final decision.
Jarrett Lawrence will be joining WVU and Neal Brown as a preferred walk-on with the football team. He said the decision was one he couldn’t pass up.
“Growing up in Morgantown, you always dream of playing for WVU, and it’s such a great opportunity,” Lawrence said. “The coaching staff really laid the foundations and showed their interest in me. Right now, I’m looking to line up on defense at safety.”
Lawrence’s teammate James Hoskins also signed to play football but won’t be staying in Morgantown. Hoskins signed to play running back and wideout with Alderson Broaddus. One thing he says he looks forward to is helping the football program rebuild back to winning ways.
“The rebuilding is something I like, they put in a lot of good ways to keep the kids educated and in school. They won’t let anyone fall through the cracks there and I love that about the program,” Hoskins said. “When I went to visit and saw the atmosphere, everybody was a team and worked together toward a common goal. It kind of reminds you of Morgantown. Everybody is ready to work.”
MHS swimmer Preston Householder will be closer to home, attending Fairmont State. He said the decision was easy for him, as the coach is someone he has experience with during his time swimming in the club season.
Starting goalkeeper for the state champion Mohigans boys’ soccer team, Carter Cave, committed to play for Shepherd. Cave said Shepherd gives him the home feel, and the campus set it apart from the other schools recruiting him.
“It’s sort of a rebuild there which interested me,” Cave said of his decision. “I think I can help contribute and get the team back to the winning season.”
The eight athletes are listed below:
Football: James Hoskins — Alderson-Broaddus, Jarrett Lawrence — WVU
Boys’ Soccer: Carter Cave — Shepherd University
Volleyball: Ella Voorhees — Southern Mississippi
Golf: Hunter Graham — Midway University
Cross-Country/Track: Vincent Ryan — Colgate University
Swimming: Preston Householder — Fairmont State University
Cheer: Paige Hudson — Midway University
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