SPRINGDALE — Kelcee Thompson was in the middle of her speech when her brother nudged her, wanting a shoutout.
“I almost totally lost what I was saying,” Thompson said.
Thompson quickly regained her train of thought and finished thanking her family, teammates and coaches. The Springdale High standout softball player was one of six Bulldog athletes from four sports who were recognized in a signing ceremony in Bulldog Gym on Tuesday morning.
Taylor Wyatt (girls soccer) was recognized for signing with Delta State, Matt Sherry (baseball) with Harding and the football trio of UCA signee Josiah Wymer and Pitt State signees Cua Rose and Deandre Murray with their respective schools.
Sherry is a standout shortstop and right-handed pitcher for Springdale coach Billy Ray Rutledge. The Harding signee will be Springdale’s No. 1 pitcher this year.
“I think it’s a great fit for him,” Rutledge said. “He’s got an opportunity to go in and compete for some early playing time. … We got him here as a skinny kid that could field a ground ball and swing a little bit. He’s been at shortstop for two or three years now and filled out, grown up a little bit and matured. He hit around .500 last year in our conference, which is pretty good.”
Harding coaches want to bring Sherry, an all-conference and honorable mention all-state player, in and give him an opportunity to pitch while continuing to play in the infield at a program he’s excited about joining.
“The coaches put a big emphasis on what they look for in a player,” Sherry said. “They look for people who hold themselves to a higher standard. That’s going to help in the student aspect. The facilities there are really nice and the overall education I’m going to get there is going to be really good.”
Wyatt scored a team-high 27 goals and had 11 assists last year, while also playing with the state champion Northwest Arkansas Lightning club team last summer. She signed with Delta State after getting to know coach Paul Babba when he was her regional Olympic development coach for a national tryout over the summer.
“I just like the way that he coaches,” Wyatt said. “And I like the town.”
Wyatt will be utilized as an attacking offensive midfielder this spring under first-year Springdale head coach Daniel McKellips.
“She’s very fast,” McKellips said. “She has great ball control. She makes very good decisions with the ball. And she always seems to be in the right place at the right time without the ball.”
Thompson hit .390 and led the team with eight RBIs and 12 runs while hitting third and playing third base as a junior. She also played travel ball with Tulsa Elite Gold.
“She’s a very big part of our offense and defense,” Springdale coach Ashlee Kemp said. “She a good team leader and sets a good example. She played a lot of good travel ball at the highest level.”
Hutchinson Community College coaches want to keep her at third and plan to have her bat in the middle of the lineup next year.
“I really liked the coaches and how they interact with the players,” Thompson said. “They have really nice facilities for their girls.”
Wymer, Murray and Rose signed last Wednesday after standout football careers at Springdale.