The early signing period kicked off for Joplin on Wednesday when four student-athletes realized their dreams by signing letters of intent to continue their athletic careers at the college level.
Senior baseball player Ethan Guilford inked his intent to play for Missouri Southern, while Madisyn Tracy signed on to play softball at William Penn. Emma Floyd is playing basketball at William Woods, while Allie Lawrence will be a dual-sport athlete while competing in track and field and volleyball at University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis.
“It means a lot because I have always wanted to compete in collegiate sports while getting a good education,” Lawrence, a pharmaceutical science major, said to SoMo Sports. “It means a lot to compete at this high of a level knowing that many high school kids don’t get this opportunity. I’m super thankful for this opportunity.”
It is often a difficult choice for student-athletes when deciding upon a college to attend. For Guilford, who is majoring in business, the opportunity to play for a powerhouse Southern baseball program in the MIAA Conference while staying home at Joplin didn’t make his decision difficult at all.
“It feels great to know that here in a year after my senior baseball season that I will be going to a program that truly cares about the game,” Guilford said of his commitment to the Lions. “My biggest supporters will be at every single home game. I know that I will always have support staying local, and my family can continue to see me play throughout my career.”
Tracy, a biology major, knew William Penn was the destination for her early on, and it wasn’t just one factor that made her mind up either. And it wasn’t just about the softball program. Nearly every aspect she came across when looking into William Penn, including the personability of coach Mike Christner, made it an easy choice for her.
“Coach (Mike) Christner has a great program going,” Tracy said. “I was attracted to their drive to compete. Not to mention, I loved the campus and the PAC center. Their biology program is also one thing that was a deciding factor. My other biggest deciding factor was the handwritten note Coach Christner mailed to me about a week after my visit. It talked about how he loved talking to my parents and thought I would be a great addition to the team. I had never had a coach do that before and it really sealed the deal for me.”
Floyd, an exercise science major, has been playing basketball for much of her life, and as the daughter of a coach, she has an appreciation for the game many student-athletes do not. That is why Floyd is so grateful for her opportunity to continue her basketball career at the collegiate level, with her dad (Joplin coach Luke Floyd) having a prominent role in her success.
“Honestly, it means so much to me to be able to play basketball at the collegiate level,” she said. “I have been around basketball my whole life and I am just super excited to get to play it a little longer. I am so grateful for the opportunity.
“I am super grateful for all the coaches and people who have supported me and pushed me to be the best I can be. Thank you for pushing me to get me to where I am today. I want to thank my family and teammates for always having my back and being my support system. I especially want to thank my dad for being the best coach and dad combo that I could ask for. I wouldn’t be where I am today without him.”
