ROGERS -- Four Rogers Heritage student-athletes signed letters of intent to continue their athletic careers in college in a ceremony Wednesday afternoon.
Shannon Stribling and Olivia Allard will both play soccer. Stribling signed with Ouachita Baptist, while Allard will play at the University of the Ozarks.
Dasha Donahoe inked to play softball at Hendrix College. Caleb Royal will join Allard at University of the Ozarks, but he will wrestle.
Royal claimed the Class 6A-7A state title at 126 pounds this year, after finishing second as a junior. He finished his high school career with almost every school notable career school record, including a 46-4 record in his senior season.
Heritage wrestling coach Doug Freeman said Royal made quite a transformation from his freshman year.
"Seriously, as a freshman he was a little chubby 106-pounder," Freeman said. "He wrestled in ways we didn't want him to. He just improved from year to year to year. He didn't medal as a freshman, but that didn't break him. It made him tougher mentally in the long run. He also came to be a leader and that's what I'm most impressed with."
Stribling and Allard both anchored the Heritage defense, which can get overlooked according to Lady War Eagles soccer coach Craig Frank.
"Both of them you can count on in clutch time," Frank said. "As a defender, you don't get a lot of statistics. So basically you're going to have to earn your respect on the field. Both of them accomplished that."
Both players have been contributers for four years. Stribling, who earned all-conference honors as a sophomore, sat out her junior season with a knee injury, but has returned strong this season. Allard has been a three-year starter.
Donahoe has been a four-year starter for the Lady War Eagles and been a key component in the circle and at the plate. She ranks second on the team in batting average at .450 and leads the team in RBIs out of the cleanup spot.
Sports on 05/07/2015