Camdenton seniors, Zoe Lockhert, Addyson Clay, Makenna Brauer and Sydney Righter all signed their letters of intent to play collegiate athletics on Wednesday, April 17, in the CHS auxiliary gym.
Lockhert and Clay will continue being teammates as they take their talents to William Woods University to play soccer, Brauer signed to play soccer at Mid America Nazarene University and Righter signed her letter to golf at Fort Scott Community College.
“Getting to share this day with Addy and Makenna means so much because we have been through thick and thin together for so long,” Lockhert said. “I started playing softball and soccer with Addy in seventh grade and played with Makenna on club soccer and basketball teams as well, so I’m with those two all the time.”
According to Lockhert and Clay, they never made it a goal to be college teammates until Lockhert persuaded Clay to check out William Woods after her visit. Lockhert then gave Clay the coach’s number and through text she was invited to a practice and the rest is history.
“It was very unexpected,” Clay said. “One day after softball practice, we said hey William Woods? alright let’s do it. We never thought that we would be together so it’s very exciting. I am sad that I won’t get to be teammates with Makenna anymore, because we have been soccer teammates since Fifth grade and I wish her the best with everything she is doing.”
Brauer shared how it felt to alleviate all of the pressure once her pen hit the paper.
“It’s kind of relieving just to have that pressure of deciding where to go, be over with,” she said. “This day means a lot and it’s really exciting because I have been working towards this for a long time and it’s nice to see it finally happen.”
Righter also noted how eager she was to finally sign her letter, and is grateful to pursue a college education.
“I have been really looking forward to this all semester because I didn’t really think that I would get the opportunity to be here for this day,” she said. “But, I was really happy that I was able to be a part of it with all of these soccer girls and it was a major accomplishment for me to be able to go to college and pursue something that I really dreamed about.”
Lockhert, Clay, Brauer and Righter all shared how much this day meant surrounded by the people who helped them get to this moment.
“My parents (supported me)1000 percent,” Lockhert said. “They have done it all and have constantly gone above and beyond whether it’s taking me to games or telling me how to improve. My Dad is always telling me to do this and that even though he’s more into baseball and softball. But, now that I’m playing soccer he’s having to learn the ropes, and it means a lot to me whenever he tries to coach me and help me as much as he can. So, all of my thanks goes to my family and of course God.”
“I have had a lot of club coaches that have got me here and high school coaches who have helped guide me through the season” Clay said. “But, I think I have had great coaches and I think I’m going to have an amazing coach in college.”
“My coaches have always been really supportive and have a positive attitude with me, even when I’m not doing so great and are always there to support me and that really helped me a lot,” Brauer said. “I definitely also want to thank my family, all of my past coaches and teammates and God of course.”
“My Mom, along with the rest of my family and friends have always been supportive of me going through all of this,”Righter said. “Also my first coach I had here at Camdenton was our theatre teacher and she helped me throughout my game and everything until she retired last year and coach Marshall took over. He has helped me with everything by making sure that I got where I wanted to be and it was really inspiring how he pushed me up to that limit and pushed me forward to where I am right now.”
