Nine West Orange High student-athletes ink scholarship offers | Observer Preps

Sitting at a long row of tables dressed with a blue tablecloth, nine West Orange student-athletes watched and waited.

Trophies and sporting equipment of all kinds sat on the floor in front of them, while a large banner sporting the

Warriors logo was on display behind them.

It was a special day for these nine West Orange athletes, as they participated in the school’s early-signing day celebration in the school’s auditorium.

“We had four states championships, five regional championships and 12 district championships,” said Athletic Director Jerry Shafer as he read off the year’s athletic achievements. “These young women and men had a hand in that alone. Congratulations for helping West Orange do this.”

What followed Shafer’s remarks was pomp and circumstance fitting for such an important moment in the lives of these young athletes.

After hearing from coaches and having letters from parents read aloud, West Orange’s nine signees put pen to paper as they made their college choices official in front of a raucous crowd of parents, teammates and friends.

With it being such a big moment for this group of seniors, the emotions ranged  from excitement to nervousness to total relief. For St. Petersburg College commit Brenna Wise, the moment was a long time coming.

“I’m really excited — it’s a big change,” Wise said. “I’ve been in high school and now I’m going to something even bigger. It’s kind of stressful — but at the same time exciting — and I’m ready to start a new chapter of my life.”

Morgan Beacham, a member of the Warriors’ girls basketball team, was one of several athletes who noted the moment was almost surreal. The 5-foot-7 guard — who will be playing the same position when she arrives at Bethune Cookman — goes into her senior season as a leader for the Warriors. Last year, she led the team in scoring (almost 15 points per game), assists (113) and steals (98).

“I’m ecstatic, because it’s like all the hard work that I have put in was leading up to this point, and for it to finally be here is just amazing,” Beacham said. “The process can get stressful, and it’s very stress-relieving, but it’s just really awesome and really cool.”

While Beacham will be making history on the court, senior wide receiver Darrell Harding will look to make a splash on the football field for the Duke Blue Devils next fall.

Like his fellow athletes at last week’s event, Harding was sad to leave his friends but knows there’s a lot of positives ahead.

“I’ve always wanted to feel what it felt like to play at a college D1 level,” Harding said. “Getting those new experiences, learning new things and pursuing my degree is all going to be just great.”

With the recruiting process now complete, some student-athletes can enjoy their upcoming final season of high-school athletics.

Others, such as Kaeli Crews — whose volleyball season ended a few weeks back — will focus on schoolwork before she makes her way to Columbia, South Carolina, to join the Gamecocks’ beach volleyball team. 

“The team chemistry is just unparalleled — I didn’t see that type of chemistry anywhere else that I looked,” Crews said of the Gamecocks. “And the girls there are like a family. I’m just really excited to be a part of USC.”