Seven Bears Sign at Winter Signing Ceremony
Story By: Nick Ross
For seven William Chrisman athletes, getting to compete at the collegiate level is no longer just a dream or goal.
It is now a reality for football players James Bailey, Kyron Mason, and Cameron Watters, girls’ basketball players Adreon Bell and Bri Burns, Beartracker Kelsey Thompson, and softball player Celine Armstrong as each signed during the Winter Signing Ceremony on February 1 ... National Signing Day for many collegiate sports.
Some stayed close to home, signing at Missouri schools such as Central Methodist and Missouri Western while others decided to travel as far as Stephen F. Austin in Nacogdoches, TX.
The historic success of the Chrisman football team resulted in a trio advancing to the next level of football,
Watters will continue his career at Central Methodist in Fayette, Missouri.
“It was an honor to be one of the seven athletes to play at the college level. Positive impact because I get to do what I love for four more years and hopefully more,” he said.
Bailey proved to be one of the top players in the State, earning multiple local, Conference and District honors. He will not play at the NCAA Division I level at Western Illinois.
“It felt good. I’ve always dreamed of going D1 and I’m glad I’ve accomplished it. I get to go to school for an education and have college paid for and I get to play my life’s work - Football. Never stop, never quit, always work hard for your dreams.”
Mason will follow old coach Scorpio Horn to Missouri Western. Horn headed to his alma mater in St. Joseph after the season and Mason is now headed that way as well.
Girls’ basketball also has seen the rewards to some of the best seasons in school history. Burns will play at Division I Stephen F. Austin in Nacogdoches, Texas and Bell will continue her career at Division II Nebraska Kearney, which are both high-level team.
Coach Scott Schaefer has seen what the duo has done to reach collegiate basketball.
“It takes a lot of time and effort to make it big,” he said.
And, it doesn’t get any easier moving forward.
“It made me realize how hard things will be now that I’m going off to college. I still have to push and work hard to get where I want to go,” Burns said.
Thompson will continue to dance at Graceland in Lamoni, Iowa. She looks forward to what the future might have in store for her.
“I am excited to challenge my skills to become better and improve my technique,” she said.
Armstrong will play softball at Southwestern in Kansas. She knows what it took to reach her goal and has advice for those who hope to be sitting on stage and signing in front of friends and family in the future,
“Advice I would give to athletes that want to sign would be that they’re the ones that’s going to have to make the effort and get themselves signed. Fill out every player questionnaire on college websites and you keep emailing the coaches until they respond.”
For seven William Chrisman athletes, getting to compete at the collegiate level is no longer just a dream or goal.
It is now a reality for football players James Bailey, Kyron Mason, and Cameron Watters, girls’ basketball players Adreon Bell and Bri Burns, Beartracker Kelsey Thompson, and softball player Celine Armstrong as each signed during the Winter Signing Ceremony on February 1 ... National Signing Day for many collegiate sports.
Some stayed close to home, signing at Missouri schools such as Central Methodist and Missouri Western while others decided to travel as far as Stephen F. Austin in Nacogdoches, TX.
The historic success of the Chrisman football team resulted in a trio advancing to the next level of football,
Watters will continue his career at Central Methodist in Fayette, Missouri.
“It was an honor to be one of the seven athletes to play at the college level. Positive impact because I get to do what I love for four more years and hopefully more,” he said.
Bailey proved to be one of the top players in the State, earning multiple local, Conference and District honors. He will not play at the NCAA Division I level at Western Illinois.
“It felt good. I’ve always dreamed of going D1 and I’m glad I’ve accomplished it. I get to go to school for an education and have college paid for and I get to play my life’s work - Football. Never stop, never quit, always work hard for your dreams.”
Mason will follow old coach Scorpio Horn to Missouri Western. Horn headed to his alma mater in St. Joseph after the season and Mason is now headed that way as well.
Girls’ basketball also has seen the rewards to some of the best seasons in school history. Burns will play at Division I Stephen F. Austin in Nacogdoches, Texas and Bell will continue her career at Division II Nebraska Kearney, which are both high-level team.
Coach Scott Schaefer has seen what the duo has done to reach collegiate basketball.
“It takes a lot of time and effort to make it big,” he said.
And, it doesn’t get any easier moving forward.
“It made me realize how hard things will be now that I’m going off to college. I still have to push and work hard to get where I want to go,” Burns said.
Thompson will continue to dance at Graceland in Lamoni, Iowa. She looks forward to what the future might have in store for her.
“I am excited to challenge my skills to become better and improve my technique,” she said.
Armstrong will play softball at Southwestern in Kansas. She knows what it took to reach her goal and has advice for those who hope to be sitting on stage and signing in front of friends and family in the future,
“Advice I would give to athletes that want to sign would be that they’re the ones that’s going to have to make the effort and get themselves signed. Fill out every player questionnaire on college websites and you keep emailing the coaches until they respond.”