On National Signing Day, three Menchville seniors signed their college letters of intent. Friends, family, coaches, and teammates all gathered into the crowded lunchroom to witness this life-changing event. It is now official that  Sarah Coon will play field hockey at Christopher Newport University,  Ian Fitzgerald will play men’s soccer at Hampden Sydney College, and  Kaitlyn Casab will play women’s soccer for Radford University. Athletic Director Greg Henderson opened the ceremony by thanking everyone for coming and congratulating “these young people for their excellence in athletics and academics.” And soon, the signing was underway.

As each student signed their coach shared a few words about them.  Dennis Zollicoffer, the girls’ soccer coach, has coached Casab for four years. He stated that “she is a phenomenal player, great person and awesome teammate.”

The boys’ soccer coach, Bryan Lybert, has coached Fitzgerald for 3 years. Lybert said that Fitzgerald’s success is a “testament to his will to learn and the fact that that he works really hard.”

Field hockey coach Nicole Kuykendall has coached Sarah for four years. She said that Sarah had been “playing field hockey since she could hold a stick.” and that she was “excited Sarah’s giving back to a (college) program that did a lot for her when she was younger.”

Afterwards, each senior shared their thoughts and feelings about this event.  Fitzgerald said that he was “relieved it’s over, but excited that I’m moving on to the next chapter in my life.”  Casab shared that she is “really excited, but really nervous about balancing school and soccer” in the upcoming years. Coon is  “so excited to continue my educational career and my field hockey career at CNU. It’s such a great school, and I’m just so blessed to have this opportunity.”

 Coach Henderson closed the event by telling the athletes  “We look forward to following your accomplishments in college.”  

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Shelby Woodward

Ian Fitzgerald, his parents, and Coach Bryan Lybert