On Nov. 14, student athletes participated in the National Signing Day where six Fort Osage High School athletes celebrated their commitments to playing sports at the collegiate level. The athletes will play baseball, soccer, track and field, wrestling and cheerleading. Senior Tess Kinne was recruited by Missouri Valley College in Marshall, Missouri where she will wrestle for the Vikings. Kinne feels as though Missouri Valley has a comfortable setting and she fits in well.

“I love the atmosphere there,” Kinne said. “It’s small and it’s very fun there. I went to the campus and just felt that it was the place for me. It’s just an atmosphere I love and it’s close to home.” 

Four of the colleges that the students picked are in Missouri, while two others are in Kansas.  Senior baseball player Ethan Gotch will be attending Fort Scott Community College in Fort Scott, Kansas. Gotch believes that his hard work and effort has helped him achieve his goals. 

“This feels good, it makes me feel like all of my hard work has paid off,” Gotch said. “I feel like my dreams are pretty much coming true.” 

Senior soccer player Sophia Smith will be going to UMKC. Smith thinks that this chance that she received makes her feel really good.

“It feels really good and it’s a great opportunity to play D-1,” Smith said. “I never really thought that I’d get there, so I feel really special.” 

The remaining students that signed were track and field runner Mallory Huber who committed to Missouri Southern State University, cheerleader Lainey Camerlynck who signed to Missouri Baptists University and baseball player Micah Copeland who is attending Missouri Valley College.

The signing ceremony was broadcast live by KFOI Sports on the NFHS Network. Viewers can watch the ceremony on demand at https://www.nfhsnetwork.com/events/fort-osage-high-school-independence-mo/evte7ef07dfb5.