On Thursday morning the Boiling Springs athletic department had fourteen students sign to play college athletics next season bringing the total of Bulldogs to commit to playing college athletics this season to twenty-nine athletes.
The college most recognized on Thursday was Erskine College as they had four Bulldogs commit to play at the school next season. Zach Baldinelli, a four year member of the Bulldogs varsity basketball team, committed to play basketball at Erskine next season. Baldinelli finished his Boiling Springs career with 1,090 points and was named to the North-South All-Start game as well as the Spartanburg County East-West All-Star game. He said that his commitment to Erskine had to do with the education at the school and familiarity with the coaching staff. "Erskine has great academics and a place that gives me an opportunity to play basketball," said Baldinelli. "I've known Coach Sartor for a long time and he sees me doing very well in the program there and so do I." Amaya Richardson also committed to Erskine College for basketball on Thursday. Richardson has been a starter for the girl's varsity basketball team for the past three years with the Bulldogs and was named All-Region in 2019. Richardson says that her commitment to Erskine was because of the feeling of familiarity she got when she was on the campus. "It just feels like where I should be," said Richardson. "I love the environment and it just feels like home." Chance Guest also committed to Erskine College as he committed to play football for a football team at Erskine that is restarting their program under head coach Shap Boyd. Guest was a two sport athlete at Boiling Springs where he started on both the football and basketball teams being named All-Region in football in 2019. He said that the campus and being a part of something new were two key factors in his decision. "It's a great campus and a great environment," said Guest. "They haven't had a team since 1954 and I'm looking forward to being part of growing the new program." Another Erskine college commitment was Jenna Varner who committed to play lacrosse next season. Varner has been a four year member of the lacrosse team where she led the team in goals this season. Varner reiterated the love of the campus her fellow commits expressed as well as her desire to play college lacrosse as reasons for her commitment on Thursday. "I've always wanted to play lacrosse in college and Erskine was my favorite option," said Varner. "I just really like the campus and the coaches down there." Trayson Fowler signed to continue his football career at Charleston Southern University next season. Fowler was a two-sport athlete at Boiling Springs starting in both basketball and football. Fowler played four different positions for the Bulldog football team (quarterback, linebacker, safety, and punter) but the most impressive may be at punter where he started or the first time this past season and averaged over forty-one yards a kick. He said that Charleston Southern just felt like the right place for him. "I went down there for a visit and it just felt right," said Fowler. "When I went down there I saw everything I wanted to see in a campus." Joining Fowler in the Charleston area will be cross country runner Kade Gosnell who committed to run cross country as well as track and field at the College of Charleston next season. Gosnell has ran track for the Bulldogs for the past six years while also running cross country for the last five years where he has accumulated numbers of accolades including winning this year's Spartanburg County Cross Country championship as well as being the 5A Upperstate champion. He finished runner up at the state championship in cross country this past season. He said that having former high school teammates already being a part of the team in Charleston was a factor in his decision. "Having some former Boiling Springs runners down there already it made the decision easier," said Gosnell. "With having former teammates there and the beach it just seemed like the right choice." Converse College picked up a commitment from the Bulldogs on Thursday as Grace McKinney elected to play college softball with the Valkyries. McKinney is a five year letterman for the Boiling Springs softball team where she named All-Region in 2017 and 2018. She said that the chance to be a part of a young program close to home were key factors in her decision. "It was really close to home and that was something I was looking at with my decision," said McKinney. "It's also a newer program and I was looking for somewhere I could make a big impact." The Boiling Springs baseball program had two commitments on Thursday as Dawson Taylor committed to play at North Greenville University and Nick Bailey committed to play at USC Union. Taylor is a four year starter for the Bulldogs and has been named All-Region the last three years. He said that the success of the program and a connection with some current players weighed on his decision. "Coach Powell is doing a really good job there and having some former teammates like John Michael there made it an easier decision," said Taylor. Bailey has been involved with the Bulldog baseball program for five years and said that USC-Union had the education he was looking for. "They were offering the classes I was looking for," said Bailey. "Getting to play baseball too was a big plus." Lander University also got two commitments from the Bulldogs on Thursday as both Sumner Bishop and Trenton Thomas both committed to play lacrosse for the Bearcats. Bishop was named to the All-Region team in lacrosse but also was named All-Region in football for his play on the Bulldogs offensive line. Thomas has been on the lacrosse team since seventh grade but also was a member of the Bulldogs football team. Both players said that the feel of the campus and getting to be a part of a new program were factors in their decision on Thursday. "I just really enjoyed the campus," said Bishop. "Also I'm getting the opportunity to be a part of the inaugural team." Thomas also reiterated that by saying, "I fell in love with the campus and knowing we're all going into a new program with a chance to win a job right away in a new program was key." The Boiling Springs soccer programs weren't left out on Thursday as Jonathan Niebles committed to play soccer at Spartanburg Methodist College while Brooke Cash committed to play soccer at Southern Wesleyan. Niebles has been a four year letterman for the Bulldogs and said that he felt Spartanburg Methodist was a good fit for him. "II thought it would be a really good place to be at for my first two years," said Niebles. "I know I will get a chance to play and only improve my soccer skills there." Brooke Cash is a four year letterman for the Bulldogs where she has served a captain the last two years while being named All-Region last season. Cash said that the campus and the people there were key to her decision. "I really enjoyed the campus and the coach is really great," said Cash. Jada Wilson a member of the Boiling Springs track and field team committed to continue her track career at North Greenville University next season. Wilson competes in the 100, 200, and 4x100 and has been a standout sprinter for the Bulldogs. Wilson also said that the familiarity of North Greenville was big in her decision. "It just felt like home," said Wilson. "Just the environment there makes you feel welcome." Comments are closed.
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