Applause filled the Melcher Gymnasium as three seniors signed the papers, which formalized their commitment to the universities where they will continue their academic and athletic careers next year.
Family members leaned in with cameras, and teammates stood along the walls. The moment marked the result of years of work that often happened long before game time.
Senior Jasmine Nguyen will play tennis at Johns Hopkins University, while senior Jackson Setrum is headed to Sewanee: The University of the South for baseball. Senior Carlton Walton will continue his baseball career at Washington and Lee University.
Although their paths through recruiting differed, each athlete’s final decision was centered on finding a community that would push them to improve while also supporting them away from competition.
For Nguyen, conversations with teammates and coaches at Kinkaid helped her picture her future.
“I wanted somewhere I’d be pushed every day,” Nguyen said. “When I met the team, I saw how committed they were to improving together, and I wanted to be part of that community. You learn how to manage nerves and stay accountable because there’s no one else on the court with you.”
She added that the independence of the sport has helped her mature both mentally and emotionally, and she looks forward to continuing that growth at the collegiate level.
Setrum said his visit to Sewanee stood out because of how naturally he connected with the team, and his experiences on them relate to his teammates.
“You’re not going to succeed every day,” Setrum said. “You have to show up again ready to work, and I love that challenge. It teaches you toughness, and the players here at Sewanee also have that grit.”
Walton also emphasized the importance of the combination of strong academics and serious baseball.
“I didn’t want to choose between being a student and being an athlete,” Walton said. “At Washington and Lee, it felt like people take pride in doing both at a high level.”
He described recruiting as a process that forced him to stay patient and focused on what he could control.
“There’s a lot of waiting,” Walton said. “I just tried to keep improving and trust that the right opportunity would come.”
By the end of the ceremony, the nerves that had been built throughout the day had shifted toward excitement about the transition ahead.
“It feels great to make it official,” Nguyen said. “But it also motivates me because I know the work is only going to get harder from here.”
