Last Wednesday was one of the most important days in a high school athlete’s career: signing day. All across the nation, young athletes would formally sign with their college of choice. As for Rolla High School, a handful of athletes signed their letters of intent on this day.

   Seven athletes from from a multitude of sports which include soccer, football, softball and volleyball signed on signing day. These athletes include Aaron Froehlich, Nathan Kramme, Hunter Short, Jacob Banholzer, Anna Feeler, Gabrielle Otte and Emily Dodge.

    The boys soccer signees, Aaron Froehlich, Nathan Kramme and Hunter Short committed to William Jewell in Liberty, Missouri, just outside of Kansas City. William Jewell is a Division 2 school that plays in the GLVC conference. Last year the Cardinals went 6-12 overall and 4-11 in conference. This coming 2014-2015 year the Cardinals are hoping to make a deep run in the tournament with their plethora of new signees leading the way as true freshmen.

     Froehlich has high hopes for the upcoming years.

     “I think it’ll go pretty well,” Froehlich said, “I think there’s a lot of us freshmen in our class who will get some pretty substantial playing time.”

    Regarding the significance of the three Rolla boys continuing their already nine years of playing together, Froehlich said, “It’s awesome. We have a lot of chemistry together. We know a lot of things about each other. We like to play together and we know how to play together.”

    Jacob Banholzer signed his letter of intent to the United States Naval Academy, the only RHS student signing for a Division I school. Navy football currently plays in an independent conference but will join the AAC Conference come 2015. Navy finished the last season 9-4 on the year.

    “It feels pretty awesome,” Banholzer said of signing for a Division I school. “I’m the first one to do it in a long time, so it’s really cool to represent Rolla High. It was a great experience and something that I will remember for the rest of my life.”

    Banholzer is looking forward to playing for Navy, especially, “playing in front of thousands of people and being a part of a big time team that wins a lot. I’m also looking forward to the great education and the atmosphere of the school. I’m ready.”

    Anna Feeler signed to play softball with East Central College. The Falcons compete in the NJCAA and are a part of the MCCAA. Last season the Falcons won the NJCAA Region 16 D2 Championships and hope to repeat this performance in the next few years with their large incoming class of seven new signees.

     “I’m looking forward to the more intense competition,” Feeler said. “I’m also excited to get to know my new teammates. I’m ready for a challenege.”

     Gabrielle Otte and Emily Dodge once played as teammates, but will soon play as rivals as they have both signed for different schools in the Heart of America Conference. Gabrielle Otte signed with Central Methodist Eagles in Fayette, Missouri. The Eagles participate in the Division 1 NAIA and are a part of the HAC. The Eagles went 16-12 in their last season and 2-7 in conference. Emily Dodge will continue her career at Missouri Valley in Marshall, Missouri. The Vikings are also a Division 1 NAIA school and a part of the HAC. The Vikings went 24-7 and 4-5 in conference.

    Otte, like Feeler, is excited for “the intensity level and hanging out with my team.” Otte says she’s hopeful to play all four year and had a message for her former teammate: “[Emily] is going down.”

    Other Rolla athletes who have signed include girl’s soccer player Nicole Howard, who signed her intent letter in December to play at Lewis & Clark College and football player Brandon Wuest signed today to play with Southwest Baptist University.