Proud parents, grandparents, balloons and banners joined 13 exceptional Blair High School athletes Wednesday morning for a celebration.
There, the senior Bears signed their National Letters of Intent to join college programs in baseball, softball, volleyball, cross-country and track. New Huskers, Jackrabbits, Wildcats, Lopers, Bobcats, a Reiver and a Thunderbird were established by the event's end.
Reese Beemer, South Dakota State track
BHS sprinter Reese Beemer enjoyed the atmosphere surrounding the South Dakota State track and field team. It, among other things, was a deciding factor in her signing with the NCAA Division I, Summit League program.
“They were just very welcoming,” the senior said. “I loved that.”
A school record holder, Beemer will head to Brookings after her senior season this spring. She'll start her career with the Jackrabbits after also claiming two state medals as a junior, including a sixth-place showing in the Class B 100-meter dash.
“I feel extremely blessed to be where I am today,” Beemer said.
Brady Brown, South Dakota State baseball
The Bears' rangy centerfielder earned his spot with the South Dakota State Jackrabbits baseball team.
“I've worked my whole life, really, with the goal to play college baseball someday,” Brady Brown said Wednesday. “I'm blessed to play it at an awesome school.”
The BHS standout joins the Jackrabbits after leading the Bears in doubles last spring. He hit at a .301 average and excelled tracking down flyouts in the outfield.
“I feel like I have a really good opportunity to have an impactful career (in Brookings),” Brown said.
The decision came with comfort knowing where he's taking his talents.
“It just really felt like home,” the senior said. “It's the kind of town I want to spend the next four years living in.”
Leah Chance, Wayne State College softball
Longtime Blair second baseball Leah Chance is set to become a Wayne State College Wildcat.
“I'm just excited to compete at the new level,” she said Wednesday. “And I'm just thankful for the opportunity to play with great people there, too.”
The Bear joins the NCAA Division II school after hitting three state tournament homers during her senior season. She hit better than .500 going into the NSAA Championships, too, but now will focus on playing for coach Christy Warnock's squad.
“I love the softball coach and the softball program is great,” Chance said.
The senior student-athlete plans to study education in college.
Allie Czapla, Wayne State cross-country/track
Four-year varsity cross-country contributor Allie Czapla is headed to Wayne State College to compete in both cross-country and track next school year.
The Blair senior shared with Wednesday's crowd — and Enterprise Media Group — how she came to her college decision. She smiled while doing it, too.
“I was at a summer race and met a teammate, and she was like, 'You should run at Wayne,'” Czapla said. “So I did.”
The Bear has earned multiple cross-country and track state qualifications, but now looks forward to meeting new teammates, making new memories and setting new running goals in college.
Reece Ewoldt, UNK cross-country/track
Coach Carson Norine's top cross-country runner signed with the University of Nebraska-Kearney on Wednesday.
Senior Reece Ewoldt, the 16th-place Class B finisher and state track and field medalist, picked the school for its coaches, runners and facilities. She is looking forward to getting to know her fellow Lopers next fall.
“My plans are to work hard to have a successful career in track and field, and cross-country,” Ewoldt said.
The Bear broke 20 minutes across 5 kilometers this fall and won multiple races for Norine's squad.
Tanner Jacobson, Could County CC baseball
Blair pitcher Tanner Jacobson will start his college baseball career at Cloud County Community College in Concordia, Kansas, after signing with the school Wednesday morning.
“I liked all of the coaches, facilities and the town,” he said.
The senior was a key pitching option last season, finishing with a 1.30 ERA across seven appearances, according to stats tabulated at maxpreps.com. Jacobson also hit four doubles for the Bears and had six RBIs.
On Wednesday, the baseball player said he looks forward to meeting new teammates and people at the next level.
Nessa McMillen, Nebraska softball
Nebraska softball coach Rhonda Revelle took in multiple Blair softball games this fall and Nessa McMillen is the reason why.
The senior shortstop made her Huskers commitment official Wednesday, signing as a Bears record-holder and one of coach Jennifer Fangmeier's top prospects in BHS program history.
“The (Nebraska) softball coaches made me feel valued and welcomed,” McMillen said. “They care about me as a person before a player.”
The standout plated multiple Blair runs during state tournament play this past fall, but also entered the Class B tournament with 11 homers, 52 RBIs and 55 runs scored. She hit at a .532 average across the Bears first 34 games of the season, too.
Now, though, McMillen is looking forward to competing in the Big Ten, noting she plans to continue to “grow as a softball player and play at a high level.”
Savanah Roan, Southeast CC volleyball
Senior libero Savanah Roan will continue her volleyball career at Southeast Community College next fall.
The BHS standout — who had more than 350 digs this past season — signed with the Beatrice-based school Wednesday, citing her new campus and coaches as reasons why.
Roan's future plans in life helped make her volleyball decision, too.
“I plan to get my health and science degree, then continue to go into nursing,” she said.
The senior helped her last Blair team to the Class B district finals last month.
Bria Scott, Peru State softball
BHS softball standout Bria Scott is a future Peru State Bobcat.
“Really happy,” she said Wednesday. “I can't wait to get started.”
The senior was a key member of the Bears' lineup this fall, showing her worth during a 3-for-4, four-RBI effort in the Class B state title game.
Next, though, she'll compete for Bobcats coach Toni Closner against Heart of America Athletic Conference competition.
“They were so welcoming on my visit and it just really felt like home there,” Scott said.
Kalli Ulven, UNK softball
One of BHS' most successful pitchers, Kalli Ulven joins a long line of Bears who moved west down Interstate 80 to play college softball. Like one of her high school coaches, Katie Christensen, the senior signed with the UNK Lopers on Wednesday.
“I'm just really hoping I can help make an impact at college, at Kearney, and I'm going to keep my career going on a real high note,” Ulven said.
The slugger led the Bears in the circle for four years, but also excelled at the plate — particularly during her senior season. She became the first play to hit 50 and 60 RBI marks in a single season, while also batting at a .611 average prior to the state tourney.
Ulven's decision came down to her studies, though, too.
“I'm going into radiology and they have a hospital right there,” she said.
J'Shawn Unger, Nebraska baseball
Right-handed pitching prospect J'Shawn Unger committed to the Nebraska baseball program more than two years ago.
On Wednesday, the Blair High School standout and highly-sought after recruit finally celebrated a future with the Huskers. He said he's looking forward to meeting his teammates and developing a future in Lincoln.
Unger — a multi-sport athlete who's also excelled in football and basketball at BHS — struck out 19 batters in just 12 1/3 innings last spring before an injury slowed his junior season.
“The fanbase was amazing,” he said, explaining why he's chosen to sign with coach Will Bolt's Big Ten baseball program. “Felt like being a 'Sker was the way to go.”
The future Husker described the coaches and staff at NU as “amazing,” too.
Nate Wachter, South Dakota State baseball
One of the newest South Dakota State Jackrabbits hit at a .318 average with five doubles and 13 RBIs as a Blair Bear last spring.
Baseball catcher Nate Wachter made his Division I commitment official Wednesday, signing with the Brookings school alongside his high school teammate, Brown. He cited his new coaches, teammates and their facilities as the reasons he picked the Jackrabbits, but also with how he “felt at home” there.
Now, Wachter is looking forward to meeting his new teammates and focusing on physical therapy-focused studies. First, though, the college-level talent will play one more season at Vets Field with his Bears this spring.
Sophia Wrich, Iowa Western CC softball
Wednesday was a big day for the Bears' centerfielder.
“Just actually getting to experience that college dream,” Sophia Wrich said when asked what she was most looking forward to at Iowa Western Community College.
The senior joins the Reivers after a successful final season at BHS. She was hitting at a .406 average with five homers and 26 RBIs entering the state tournament and had a diving catch in the state championship final.
Wrich's college decision came down to liking the Council Bluffs, Iowa, campus and she, notably, “fell in love with the coaches.”
Arlington athletes sign with colleges
Two Arlington Eagles are signed to college teams, too, according to the Omaha World-Herald.
Rylee Fuehrer is committed to playing softball at Northeast Community College in Norfolk, while Taylor Arp signed with the Wayne State College track and field team. Fuehrer, notably, earned first team All-Nebraska Capitol Conference honors this fall with a 10-6 pitching record and 71 strikeouts. She also hit at a .350 average with 14 RBIs.
Arp, meanwhile, earned 10th at last May's NSAA State Track and Field Championships in the Class B discus, clearing 117 feet, 1 inch. She is a multi-sport athlete, who has also competed in volleyball and basketball during her time at AHS.
