Before they each spoke into a microphone about their athletic futures Tuesday morning, seven Blair High School seniors posed for photos wearing apparel from their new schools.
The Bears posed for one pic and lined up nice and straight for another, but they, ultimately, wanted one more just for fun. In it, the newest college sports signees from BHS spontaneously posed real quick, emphasizing the school names and logos on their shirts.
Jane Busboom, Nadia Davey, Karlie DeWitt-Dodd, Brooke Janning, Brynn Ray, Addie Sullivan and Jade Wickwire are Bears now, but they'll — in the not-to-distant future — be Tommies, Vikings, Warriors, Buffs, Mavericks, Lopers and Griffons. They celebrated that fact in front of a crowd of their friends and families Tuesday at BHS.
Jane Busboom, St. Thomas swimming
Busboom was excited to commemorate her next step.
“It's really big,” she said. “I've always dreamed of swimming in college.”
The BHS senior, who competes as a Fremont Tiger through the schools' co-op, is a FHS record-holder and multiple-time state medalist set to take her talents to the University of St. Thomas in Saint Paul, Minn. She went to college swim camps as a youngster and looked up to those athletes. Now, though, she's less than a year away from being one herself.
“I'm just excited to see how good I can be,” Busboom said.
The Tommies are coached by Matt Bos. They compete in the Summit League, which very well could bring Busboom and her teammates to Omaha annually for competitions against the Mavs.
The Blair swimmer said St. Thomas' campus, academics and athletics all drew her to the school.
“Right when I stepped on campus, I immediately felt at home and knew that was where I wanted to be,” she said.
In Minnesota, Busboom said she'll continue working toward the goals she has for herself now as a Fremont swimmer getting set for her senior season.
“Really, just better my times,” she said. “Become the best athlete that I can.”
Nadia Davey, Augustana XC and track
Davey will not finish up her competitive running career during Blair's track and field season next spring. On Tuesday, she celebrated signing with the Augustana Vikings of Sioux Falls, S.D.
“I'm so excited to continue running,” the senior said. “It's the sport that I love the most.”
Davey's new Division II school competes in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC). It is coached by Tracy Hellman.
The multiple-time state qualifier said she was drawn to the Lutheran school by the people.
“They're all so much fun,” Davey said. “There's so much to do on the campus and I feel like it's so welcoming for everybody.”
The Blair Bear competed at last month's state cross-country meet injured. She said Tuesday she looks forward to a healthy season with the Vikings next fall.
Karlie DeWitt-Dodd, Midland wrestling
The winter season start of high school wrestling practice was less than a week away when DeWitt-Dodd celebrated signing with Midland University on Tuesday.
“I'm ready to get back on the mat and start wrestling again for this year,” the BHS senior said.
In 2025, DeWitt-Dodd will compete as a Warrior for coach Chelsea Dionisio in Fremont. Checking out Midland as a college option was the suggestion of the high school senior's mother.
“I was not really looking into it and then we went there,” she said, noting a meeting with Dionisio and the Warriors. “I love the team. They were just so supportive and stuff.”
The visit made DeWitt-Dodd feel at home, which is why she'll wrestle in Blair with a Great Plains Athletic Conference future on her mind.
“It feels pretty good considering I was apart of the first girls team here at Blair,” the senior grappler said. “And, then, to know that I'm going to continue improving in it at Midland feels really good.”
Brooke Janning, West Texas A&M softball
Senior year softball went well for Blair High School's ace pitcher, Janning.
“I'm really just proud of how our team came together at the end,” she said Tuesday.
Next, though, the Omaha World-Herald All-Nebraska selection gets set to play for the West Texas A&M Buffs in Canyon, Texas. The Division II program competes in the Lone Star Conference under the direction of Michael Mook, who's 2024 team went 50-8 last spring.
Janning said the campus and the community played a role in her decision to join the Buffs after breaking the single-season BHS record for strikeouts in a season.
“You can really tell they love their programs,” she explained. “Everything is awesome.”
Janning's senior season went great, yes, but the Bear is ready for even more softball in her college future.
“I just hope to grow the sport and continue loving the game,” she said.
Brynn Ray, Minnesota State soccer
Deciding where to play college soccer isn't easy.
“Finally, we're done with the recruiting process. It was a long process,” Ray said Tuesday. “It was a really fun one, though.”
After going through all of her options, the Blair senior picked the Minnesota State Mavericks of Mankato. The Mavs play NCAA Division II soccer in the NSIC. They're coached by Brian Bahl, who's team is 13-1-5 this fall going into today's conference tournament semifinals.
Ray said her new school's campus helped make her decision, but so, too, did the “amazing” soccer program.
“We went up there for a couple camps and the coach was so welcoming,” the senior Bear said. “The whole team … you felt like you were apart of the team when you were there.”
Before college, though, Ray still has a high school season to go this spring. During it, she wants to build up her aggressiveness and overall strength before she becomes a Minnesota State freshman.
“I've watched a bunch of games and, obviously, it all comes with being aggressive out on that field,” Ray said.
Addie Sullivan, UNK basketball
Signing with the University of Nebraska-Kearney (UNK) Lopers proves that all of Sullivan's hard work is paying off, the basketball standout said Tuesday.
“It means a lot,” the Class B All-State honorable mention recipient added.
UNK, a Division II school, competes in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA). It is coached by Drew Johnson, who is starting his second season with the Lopers this year.
“The basketball culture is really good,” Sullivan said of the program. “It's just something I want to be apart of.”
She liked the school, but said her coaches are, importantly, personable.
“They care about me not just as a player, but as a person,” the senior forward said.
Before she's off to college, though, Sullivan starts her final Blair season Monday during practice. Her goals for this season are reaching 1,000 career points and building a strong team chemistry as the Bears compete against of tough slate of Eastern Midlands Conference competition.
Jade Wickwire, Missouri Western cross-country and track
Wickwire produced her best-ever 5-kilometer time in her last high school cross-country race.
The NSAA State Championships course in Kearney took her just 20:33.65 to traverse.
Now, though, the Blair Bear will have an opportunity to better her time further at Missouri Western. She celebrated signing with the Division II school in St. Joseph, Mo., on Tuesday.
Wickwire said she picked coach Cody Ingold's program after meeting with who will now be her future teammates.
“They reminded me of my team here,” she said. “It really drew me in.”
Missouri Western's nursing program helped, too.
While work in medicine is Wickwire's plan for the future, running is as well. She hopes to make the Griffons' top group by her sophomore season with even more goals to come after that.
“Maybe make it to nationals, regionals and everything,” she said Tuesday, celebrating her athletic accomplishments with six other BHS classmates. They all wore new apparel from their new schools.
