National Signing Day: Wildcat athletes declare their college choices

Three Lake Highlands High School athletes participated in National Signing Day festivities last week, publicly declaring their plan to play sports at the college level.

Wildcat quarterback Mitch Coulson will enroll at Emporia State University in Kansas to play running back. Founded in 1863, ESU is a Division II school which competes in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA). More than 5,000 students attend ESU, but Frank G. Welch Stadium, where the Hornets’ home games are played, boasts seating for more than 7,000.

Trey Ates will play baseball at Paris Junior College. The right-handed pitcher throws 64% strikes and pitches in the 87-89 MPH range. PJC has about 5,000 students enrolled and plays in the National Junior College Athletic Association.

Outfielder Lucas Terilli will play baseball at East Central College in Union, Missouri. ECC, which is gearing up to restart their men’s baseball program in the fall of 2021, has hired Texan Brandon Rains to coach the team. As head coach for Brookhaven College in Dallas, Rains regularly set school records, had teams in the top 10 and earned conference championships.

Congratulations, all!