NATIONAL SIGNING DAY
A combined six student-athletes from Jones County had one common cause for celebration last Wednesday in the JCHS cafeteria.
With teammates, family, coaches and others watching all the toward the back of the room, standouts from the sports of wrestling, volleyball and football made the celebration of the signing of national letter of intents official.
The day brought a bit of history, too. The Volley Hounds’ Nya Warren signed with nearby Georgia College & State University, making her the first player in program history to sign to play in college. Wrestler Aiden Lipford was part of history as well, inking to go to Andrew College as it begins its wresting program.
“It’s big for those guys.
Like Coach Alligood just said to everybody, having someone who is going to pay for you to go to school and get a degree and you get to continue to do what you love to do. That’s exciting for them,” Greyhounds head wrestling coach Adam Gillhouse said. “It’s exciting for our younger guys to see what hard work and dedication can do for you.”
With Lipford’s signing, the Greyhounds wrestlers have now had a wrestler sign a scholarship for the third year in a row.
“Aiden is where is he because of hard work,” Gillhouse said. “He’s one of the hardest workers I have ever been around. He is always looking for ways to get better.”
Warren is a part of the volleyball program’s first class of seniors to play all four seasons since it began in 2020.
“It’s so exciting. She’s one who has been with us all four years and helped build our program,” Jones County head volleyball coach Kim Hanner said.
“She’s been a good mentor for the younger players. It makes the program seem real; it means something now. Younger players can see this and say, ‘I can do that, now.’“ The final stage of the day brought a quartet of Greyhounds from the football program on stage. Zion Ragins and Tyler Stewart – two speedsters who have blistered opposing defenses with a combined 54 receiving touchdowns in the past four seasons – celebrated their signing with Oklahoma and Temple. Defensive back Rod Freeman signed on to play for Rocky Mountain College, and running back Jaylen Dekle signed with Kansas Wesleyan.
“Every year, it’s a great time when you can have guys sign. We had a really good signing class, and we should have a few more that sign later on in the semester,” Greyhounds head football coach Mike Chastain said. “We had a really good class, and we are so happy for these guys. It’s a big deal. Our young men see that when you take care of business in the classroom and work hard on the field, you have a chance.”
Dekle was part of the Greyhounds’ stable of running backs this past season, averaging 7.2 yards a carry and tied with the team lead with three touchdowns. He’s bound for a Kansas Wesleyan program that competes in the NAIA’s Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference.
The Coyotes went 8-3 last year, claiming a share of the division title.
Freeman tied for second on the team last fall with six passes defended and was also second in interceptions with three. That was enough to draw attention from Rocky Mountain, an NAIA program with football history dating back as far as 1931 and is located in Billings, Montana. The Battlin’ Bears were 6-4 last season.
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