It was an exciting Wednesday morning at Blair High School as five seniors committed to their futures.
“Of course,” Kylie Quick confirmed. “Yes.”
The cheerleader and four of her classmates took part in national signing day at 7:30 a.m., signing their national letters of intent to continue their athletic careers at the college level. Overall, the five Bears signed with four schools.
Hailey Baker, Wayne State track and field
Not even winter can stop Hailey Baker from preparing for her senior BHS track and field season.
“I'm trying to get every chance possible to get out and throw because I know we didn't have one last year,” she said. “So, I'm trying to catch up a little bit and get ahead of the game.”
After the upcoming high school season, Nebraska's first since 2019 when Baker qualified for state shot put, the Bear now knows where her first college track and field campaign will start. The standout signed up for Wayne State track and field Wednesday morning.
“Something just feels right about (Wayne),” Baker said. “When I walked on campus, it just kind of clicked.”
The thrower's brother was a freshman Wildcat football player last fall and the BHS senior knows she'll have more familiar faces to run into there. But, mostly, Baker is looking forward to competing in her sport again after she was limited to her club team's virtual meets amid COVID-19 in 2020.
“I love track,” the senior said. “It brings me joy in life.”
Hannah Koch, College of Saint Mary softball
The College of Saint Mary softball season starts in two weeks.
Blair senior Hannah Koch won't be a member of that team, but she will be joining the Flames for 2022 after signing her letter of intent Wednesday morning.
“It's really exciting to get to do it in college because not many people get to,” the now-former Bear said. “I'm just really happy about it — about today.”
Koch joins Saint Mary after notching 35 hits with 10 doubles during her senior high school season last fall. She also scored 22 runs and has stolen 17 bases since the start of her sophomore campaign.
In Omaha, the outfielder will join former BHS standout Lina Scott and a club team teammate on the Flames' roster.
“I love the campus and the coach, too,” Koch said. “It was just overall the best fit.”
Coach Carolyn Todd Bray leads the College of Saint Mary softball program and is the school's sports information director, making several connections with Blair athletes through the years.
Dex Larsen, Wayne State football
One of the most prolific runners in Blair High School history is joining the Wayne State football program.
Dex Larsen signed his national letter of intent Wednesday after three-straight 1,000-yard seasons and a lifetime of preparation.
“This day meant a lot,” the Bear said Wednesday. “This is the day I've been waiting for for years. This is what, basically, my whole life has been geared toward since I was little. I've always known I wanted to play college football.”
Larsen joins coach John McMenamin's Wildcat program after earning Class B first-team honors with 1,212 rushing yards and 24 total touchdowns as a senior. He said Wayne State's new coaching staff was one of the reasons he signed up.
“They just felt like family. They did,” the senior said. “And then the campus on top of that felt like home itself.”
Larsen will also join the team knowing several of his Wildcat teammates.
“We already kind of have a little chemistry there and I think we'll have a lot of fun, a lot of success,” he said, wearing his Wayne State gear on signing day.
Nolan Ulrich, another senior Bear, also signed with Wayne State football Wednesday, but was unable to take part in signing day festivities.
Rachel Parks, Morningside College golf
Inspired by her Bears' high school success, Rachel Parks signed up to play college golf at Morningside College on Wednesday.
“The first time we made it to state, my junior year, I was like, 'OK. This was worth it,'” the standout said. “Then we made it again my senior year and I was like, 'OK. I don't want this to be over yet.'”
Consistently coach Ross Udey's low-scorer, who earned seventh at districts and 26th at the Class B state tournament last fall, Parks joins a Sioux City, Iowa, college program coached by Todd Sapp, who's led the Mustangs for more than a decade.
“The coach just really made me feel like he saw something in me that I didn't even see,” Parks said. “So, I'm hopeful for the future.”
Sapp, a three-time Great Plains Athletic Conference coach of the year, has turned Morningside into a national-qualifying program during his tenure. His 2020-21 roster includes golfers from Iowa, Spain and Mexico as well as one Nebraskan — Lincoln freshman Lauren Carr.
Kylie Quick, Dakota Wesleyan cheer
Quick is a multiple-sport athlete, playing golf, but also competing and performing as a senior member of the Blair High School cheer program.
“I love the feeling of just supporting your classmates in the classroom, and on the field and the court,” she said Wednesday. “Being at every game is just a good feeling for me.”
That satisfaction will continue in college as the BHS senior signed to cheer at Dakota Wesleyan University in Mitchell, S.D., next school year. Quick has been to cheer camps through the years and has appreciated the skills she's witnessed at them, including advanced tumbles and stunts.
“I just really want to learn that and I feel going the next step further I can,” the senior said.
In her move up the ladder, Quick found a partner in the Tigers. She likes her new coach, Traci Loecker, her future teammates and the campus.
“It's not too far from home,” the Blair Bear said. “But its far enough, you know?”
Ultimately, Quick is excited about her future after an exciting signing day.
