MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Kaitlyn Ammons, Caroline Kirby and Alayna Corwin headlined the first round of college signings for area athletes, putting pen to paper at various times Wednesday to finalize their decisions to continue their athletic careers at DePaul, Syracuse and Marshall, respectively.
First, we start with Ammons, who might have spoken her current path into existence 12 years ago. It didn’t take long following her time at St. Francis to become a star with Morgantown. Last season, without a senior on the team, Ammons averaged 16.7 points and nine rebounds as the team’s most productive center/forward. Yet, even though she announced her choice in early April, Ammons still noted it was hard to find the words to describe how she felt signing her letter of intent.
“It’s something I thought I’d have the words for because I’ve waited for today my entire life,” Ammons said. “I think I was 6 years old when I told my parents I wanted to play college basketball and the fact that it’s happening right now is unreal to me. I’m really thankful for this opportunity, though, because it’s not something a lot of people get and I don’t think people realize how much work I’ve put into this. I’m really thankful.”
And when it came down to choosing between two schools, Boston College and DePaul, the local star chose to move to the Windy City and test her mettle in the Big East Conference.
“I fell in love with DePaul when I was there and knew it was the only option for me,” she said.
It’s even sweeter to Ammons that she can represent her high school and home county on the big stage.
“I’m so grateful to be from the Morgantown area and be able to put on a Morgantown jersey for my senior season. I cannot be more thankful for every person in this room,” she said, motioning towards the full dining room in Colasantes. “All these people are here to support me and I couldn’t be more blessed.”
She was also thankful to her family for guiding her along the way, a group that’s full of athletes to this day. But before she takes the court for the Blue Demons, Ammons has a few more goals to accomplish with the Mohigans, like make first team all-state and make the state tournament and win the title, both attainable by her account.
“I always will support [DePaul]. I love watching them play on TV and now can say, ‘Wow, that’s my team. I belong to them, I’m so excited.’”
Alayna Corwin joins the Herd
A while back Alayna Corwin announced she was going to play Division I volleyball with an in-state up and comer, but not the one in her backyard. Instead of donning the blue and gold, Corwin will instead head south to proudly wear the green and white as a member of The Thundering Herd.
She was so overwhelmed by accomplishing one of her biggest goals, it brought her tears – good tears.
“I’m very excited,” Corwin said. “I’ve worked to be here. It kind of doesn’t feel real, it feels like a dream. I’m just beyond excited to get into Huntington and get on the court to play for a great program.”
Corwin came into the spotlight last season as new coach Erica Manor’s “go-to girl,” quickly living up to that mantle and helping lead the Mohigans to a state tournament appearance. This year, Corwin upped the ante, leading MHS through a dominant season as the leaders of Region I. The signing is interlaced between a solid 3-2 win over Bridgeport in the regional finals and a rematch with the Indians on Saturday to kick off the state tournament.
“Everything’s hitting in one week: We won sectionals and regionals, and now we’re going to states,” she said. “I’m ready, we’re ready and we’re going to do a great job down there.”
Interestingly, Corwin won’t be continuing her career as a hitter but rather joins the Herd as a libero – the role she plays for travel ball. Regardless of the position, though, Corwin hopes to jump in and contribute right away.
“I’m ready to play,” she said. “I’m ready to get on the court, take Marshall volleyball and do what I can with it.”
Caroline Kirby makes it official with the Orange
University High athletes kicked off the National Letter of Intent Signing Day in the quiet halls of UHS, closed for Veteran’s Day.
Of the five athletes who signed to continue their baseball, volleyball, soccer and running careers, the most highly anticipated signing of the morning was senior Caroline Kirby, a cross country and track standout, who finalized her decision to attend Syracuse.
“As soon as I stepped on campus – fortunately, I was able to go on campus – I knew it was the right fit for me,” Kirby said. “I was able to go on Zoom with a couple of the upperclassmen and was fortunate enough to meet with the freshmen on the team as well. From talking with them and with coach [Brien] Bell and coach Raynee [Degrio] I knew it was definitely the right fit and program for me. I’m extremely excited to see what the future holds.”
Kirby will be participating in Syracuse’s cross country and track programs and said she hopes to be able to contribute right away to the competitive Atlantic Coast Conference teams.
The signing comes just weeks after Kirby helped lead the Hawks girls’ cross country team in securing the state runner-up spot in Ona. She also helped UHS place second overall at regionals and claim the OVAC title over rival Morgantown.
“It’s meant so much to me,” Kirby said of her career at UHS. “My teammates in the past, coach Ed [Frohnapfel] and my club coach Johnathan Wright have made a huge impact on me the last four years. UHS cross country has such a large culture and it really is a dynasty. The success just keeps growing with each class coming in and hopefully, I was able to make my mark with my time here, and hopefully, it will aid the freshmen and freshmen to come to continue with the culture and making the program successful.”
Kirby will study health sciences with a specializing in physical therapy.
Twin pitching duo sign with James Madison
While only time will tell if the twin Smith brothers will be able to keep batters on their toes, Wednesday was a day to put all those thoughts aside and celebrate the athletes’ next steps.
And it goes without saying Evan and Casey Smith’s parents are lucky to see two of their children sign letters of intent side-by-side to the same school, JMU. The brothers were happy to stick together, too.
“It means a lot [that Evan is coming to JMU], it’s great playing with him and having fun. To go to college with him it means a lot,” Casey said. “It’s good most of the time, sometimes it gets a little rough here and there, but for the most part [our relationship] is good.”
Evan concurred.
“We always wanted to go to college together, we wouldn’t know exactly how it would work out, but when they offered both of us it made us really happy,” Evan said. “No other college had done that before, so I think that’s the main reason we decided on [JMU].
“After so long waiting and trying to get an offer, they offered us. We really liked the school so it wasn’t like we had to think about it much.”
Both pitchers at UHS and on their US Elite travel team, the Smiths committed last fall before COVID-19 shook up college recruitment, but to them, it was just the right time since they wanted to go out of state for the next leg of their careers.
“If you want to get a scholarship at all you’re going to have to commit earlier or there’s not going to be any left,” Casey said. “It’s better to get it sooner than later.”
So how did they know so early JMU was the right school for them?
“We went there for a tournament with US Elite last year and the coaches were awesome, the campus was beautiful,” Casey said. “It seemed right.”
“The coaches, as soon as we got there they were really nice and we liked their coaching style,” Evan said. “Really passive but can be stern sometimes.”
Further, despite losing their junior season with the Hawks, Casey and Evan have had plenty of time to keep honing their skills, continuing to travel with US Elite and play over the summer. Yet, while they’re alike in every other facet, their pitching style does differ.
“This season I topped around 87 [mph], my curveball is above average, I think once I put on some weight I’ll be sitting low 90s with a pretty good curveball,” Evan said. “I’ll probably be a closer or a starter, I don’t come in as relief a whole lot.”
“I’m topping around 90 right now,” Casey said. “Hopefully I’ll get that up going into college.”
Lizzie Edwards heading to Slippery Rock
University’s top goalkeeper is heading north across the border to take her talents to Slippery Rock.
“They were the first ones to start recruiting me, and when I went there on my official visit it felt like a home away from home,” Edwards said. “It has an outstanding academic program, it has what I want to do, it has great resources and the soccer program is really good. Last year they made it to the Division II championships, so it felt like the place I needed to be.”
It also helps that it isn’t too far away, the perfect distance from Morgantown according to Edwards noting she wanted to expand her horizons.
“It’s a good weekend commute, I have baby cousins that are coming on the way so it will be great to be far away from where I have my own little community but not far enough away so I’ll still have my family.”
Edwards wasn’t sure if she’d have a senior season as COVID-19 knocked out a month for al Mon County athletes. Although the Hawks were unable to make it deep in the postseason, Edwards still sees the past year as the stepping stone she needed to prove she could be a collegiate keeper. Her time with Fury Soccer Club, now known as FC Alliance, also prepared her for the next step in her career.
“I got lucky that I verbally committed to Slippery Rock before high school, so I knew I had a place to be,” she said. “I’ve worked very hard.”
Edwards will study psychology with an emphasis on neuroscience.
Alyssa Weaver signs with Fairmont State
Morgantown’s fast attacking, sneaking assisting senior Alyssa Weaver has decided to stay close to home, committing to Fairmont State.
Weaver was an integral part of the Mohigans’ midfield as a junior when the team claimed the girls’ soccer Class AAA title, and improved even more for her senior season, albeit ending short of the state tournament. She ended her high school career with 67 goals and 48 assists.
The familial vibe of the FSU program drew Weaver in, a feeling she’s had with MHS, too.
“They’re really family-oriented and seeing that made me want to go there,” she said. “Stirlin [Rivers] really helped because I wasn’t pushing through the midfield and now I go, dribble forward and try to score.”
FC Alliance has helped Weaver grow in soccer as well, boosting skills she lacked. The combination of two high-level teams, she said, is what pushed her forward noting Sammi Brown and Ari Christensen – two former preps standouts that led MHS and UHS to state titles before playing at the collegiate level – were integral in her development.
“[Winning the state title] helped my confidence a lot,” Weaver said. “I was really scared my first few years but after becoming a state champ it really helped bring out my confidence.”
Ashlynn Napier continues volleyball career with West Virginia Wesleyan
Volleyball talent in Region I is seemingly unmatched by all except for teams in Berkeley County, and another local spiker, Ashlynn Napier, has chosen to continue her career and keep her talents in-state with West Virginia Wesleyan.
Napier will join the Bobcats as a middle hitter/blocker after her four years with the Hawks program, changing roles a couple of times but mostly sticking around the middle.
“UHS has a great volleyball program and pushes you to be your best, so I think going into college I’ll be more prepared with the training, conditioning and stuff like that,” Napier said. “I chose Wesleyan because they have a very good athletic training program which is what I want to go into. I like how they’re kind of small so you get more one-on-one work which is what I do best with, and they have two very good coaches who know a lot about volleyball. And it’s not far away from home.”
Napier knew she wanted to continue her volleyball career early on, knowing it was something she could pursue and excel in. Also knowing Payton Hefner within the program has helped her with the process.
“She’s talked to me about what they do, what to expect, so it’s made it easier,” Napier said.
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