Sandite Recruiting Report: Ava Watts Commits to Texas A&M-Commerce & More
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Charles Page High School senior Ava Watts is headed to Texas next year. The soccer star recently announced her commitment to Texas A&M-Commerce on Instagram.
The NCAA Division I program competes in the Southland Conference and is led by second-year head coach Ashley Gordon. The Lions just transitioned to the Division I level in 2022 and are 14-14-3 since moving up to the big league.
Watts led the Sandites in scoring this past season with 21 goals and five hat-tricks, including a seven-goal performance against Putnam City.
Baseball
Senior right-handed pitcher Eli Buxton (6’6” 185 pounds) committed on Wednesday to play college baseball at Arizona State University. Buxton went 4-3 last season as the Sandites claimed their first district title in school history.
ASU is an NCAA Division I program in the Pac-12 conference, though the university will be moving to the Big 12 by the time Buxton enrolls.
The Sun Devils are a perennial power with 21 conference championships and five national championships but are coming off a 26-32 season under now second-year head coach Willie Bloomquist.
Senior OF/LHP Miller Tavaglione (6’2” 190 pounds) announced his commitment to play at Allen County Community College in Iola, Kansas on Friday.
The Red Devils compete in the NJCAA and went 25-29 last season under now seventh-year head coach Clint Stoy.
Miller will join fellow senior INF/RHP Jace Arnold (6’2” 180 pounds), who committed to Allen County in August.
Senior infielder Wyatt Rutledge (6’2” 170 pounds) announced his commitment on Friday to play at Northern Oklahoma College-Enid.
NOC completes in the NJCAA and is entering its first season under head coach Ryan Bay.
Rutledge will join fellow Sandites Jabe Schlehuber and Dom Ornelas, who are freshmen at NOC.
Senior INF/RHP Jackson Stewart (5’11” 195 pounds) announced his commitment to McPherson College on Sunday.
McPherson is an NAIA school competing in the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference. The Bulldogs went 37-16 last season and are entering their first year under head coach Chris Dawson. McPherson is coming off a KCAC tournament title and three consecutive NAIA tournament appearances.
Football
Senior lineman/TE Evan Williams (5’10”, 215 pounds) announced that he received an offer to play football at Kansas Wesleyan University.
The Coyotes compete in the NAIA and the KCAC. Then first-year head coach Matt Myers led Wesleyan to an 8-3 record in 2022.
Williams also holds offers from Hendrix College, Lyons College, and Oklahoma Wildcats Prep.
Sophomore quarterback Easton Webb (6’3” 175 pounds) is committed to playing baseball at Oklahoma State University, but he recently received a Division I football offer from the University of Nevada at Las Vegas.
Sophomore lineman Ryley Kester (6’4” 270 pounds) has received Division I offers from UNLV, Houston, Tulsa, Georgia Tech, and Texas Tech.
Sophomore receiver Brock O’Dell (5’10”, 170 pounds) holds one college offer from Northwestern Oklahoma State University.
Senior offensive lineman Tyler “Tank” Smith (5’10” 285 pounds) holds one college offer from Hendrix.
Senior linebacker Owen Floyd (6’0” 190 pounds) has earned two offers this season from Hendrix and Oklahoma Wildcats Prep.
Junior receiver Kooper Kelly holds one offer from Northwestern Oklahoma State University.
Basketball
5’10” senior small forward Kiaryn Taylor recently announced she has received an offer from Western Texas College, an NJCAA program in Snyder.
The Lady Westerners went 5-21 last season but are entering a new era under first-year head coach Rachael Eubank.
Taylor also holds offers from Ranger College and Lincoln Trail College.
5’7” senior guard Taiona “Yonnie” Morris has received offers from Eastern Oklahoma State College, Coffeyville Community College, and Northeastern Oklahoma A&M.
Softball
Senior RHP/3B/SS Kelsi Hilton is committed to playing at Southern Nazarene University in Bethany, Oklahoma.
