By: Evi Fromm

With graduation nearing, Bellbrook High’s athletic department held a signing ceremony on April 28 in the gym to honor the Class of 2025 athletes continuing their sports at the collegiate level. Twenty athletes in the senior class will be playing in college in the coming year. 

The department also held a smaller signing ceremony in the fall to honor athletes.

Athletic director Charlie O’Dell set up tables in the gym, but athletes needed to bring any decorations of their own for their tables. 

“My parents purchased a Malone flag so I could use it for signing day and then keep it in my dorm for next year,” senior Grant Driskell said. Driskell plans to study Mechanical Engineering at Malone and play soccer.

All of these athletes worked very hard on and off the field during their time at Bellbrook to achieve playing at the collegiate level. 

“The recruiting process was grueling with constant emailing and communication with coaches of potential colleges I wanted to attend,” Driskell said. “It was also an insane amount of traveling to ID camps and showcase events, so I could put myself out in front of those same colleges.”

“For me, the recruiting process was long,” senior Ashtyn Praeter said. “It took a long time to find a coach and a team that made me feel invited in. It was also hard to choose a school with a good nursing program, good campus, and a good lacrosse team. I just had to keep attending practices!”

Praeter will be playing lacrosse at Malone University.

The signing night was open to the public, so anyone who wished to attend and support the class of 2025 could.

“The best part of signing night was having my family and friends come to watch my sign, and celebrate moving on to the next level for our sports,” Driskell said. “This is important to me because it shows that they truly care about how hard we have worked on our game.”

“I feel a little empty inside,” Driskell said, “Knowing that I will never step onto a field with a Bellbrook jersey ever again. I will definitely be taking the lesson of leadership on to the next level, but I am looking forward to meeting people who have a similar mindset to mine, where hard work and having a goal-oriented mindset are a top priority.”

“I am sad to be leaving Bellbrook athletics behind, but I also know that I have big things waiting for me ahead,” Praeter said. “I have taken away a lot, such as the importance of teamwork and creating relationships. I am looking forward most to playing on the team with the girls. They are the sweetest group of girls and have made me feel so welcomed every time I visit.”

Congratulations to:

Phoebe Bretland, University of Dayton, Cheerleading

Andrew Bruckart, Cedarville University, Cross Country and Track

Sophie Davis, East Tennessee State University, Volleyball

Grant Driskell, Malone University, Soccer

Cheyenne Duhl, Penn State University Beaver, Softball

Riley Ferrin, Ohio Northern University, Football

Jordan Frantz, Wright State University, Soccer

Caitlyn Hansen, Indiana University-Indianapolis, Soccer

Mia Nazarenus, La Salle University, Diving

Izella Painter, Bryant & Stratton College, Basketball

Ava Praeter, Stetson University, Lacrosse

Ashtyn Praeter, Malone University, Lacrosse

Lainey Schleich, Ohio Northern University, Golf

Corinne Stamm, Heidelberg University, Volleyball

CJ Scohy, Wright State University, Golf

Sam Snyder, Wilmington College, Lacrosse

Chasidy Stewart, Ohio Christian University, Softball

Cole Swallows, Otterbein University, Lacrosse

Austin Webb, Ohio Christian University, Basketball

Jada Weiss, Otterbein University, Wrestling