MADISON- The graduating class of 2022 was certainly a well-rounded group of student-athletes as the four local high schools presented a long list of scholarship signees in an array of sports. Many of the elite athletes signed with major universities, but still others chose smaller schools with significant less athletic programs.

This year’s scholarship signees included athletes who were voted to be the best at their sport and others who received very little recognition. Tops on the local talent included Emmah Rolfe of Bob Jones, Alex Wade of Madison Academy, Kenny Hall of Sparkman and Elizabeth Busby of James Clemens. Each of those student-athletes were splendid athletes and students and even more remarkable young people with a bright future directly ahead of what awaits them.

Bob Jones

Sixteen student-athletes, including nine football players, were reported from Bob Jones to sign athletic and academic scholarships in the recent school year. Two of the 16 signees were females and led by Emmah Rolfe a member of the Super All-State Softball Team, First Team All-State selection and was awarded the honor as Pitcher of the Year in Class 7A. The No. 6 rated pitcher in the country signed with the Auburn Tigers.

The remaining signees included: Matthew Lee- football (Lindsey Wilson College), Cosey Scarebrook- football (Army), Terrance Salter- football (Campbellsville University), Cedric Jackson- football (West Alabama), D.J. Davenport- football (Campbellsville University), Dan Gordon- football (Concord University), Jeff Rodriquez- football (Alabama A&M), Malachi Steele- football (Campbellsville University), Emariah Grant- basketball (Wallace State-Hanceville), J.W. Hopkins- baseball (Wallace State), Cole Molina- baseball (Wallace State), Ryan Revera- baseball (Wallace State), Fisher Moss- baseball (Snead State), Gavin Moran- baseball (Coastal Alabama-Brewton) and Jaden Edwards- football (Erskine College).

James Clemens

Of the 21 total scholarship signees for the Jets, including 10 females, Elizabeth Busby led the class signing with Southern Illinois. The super-talented swimmer for the Jets was the school’s female High School Heisman Award recipient and caried a 4.0 grade point average. She set her personal best times in both the 100 butterfly and 200 individual medley races at the AHSAA State Swim Meet.

Additional signees from James Clemens included: Darren Verhage- football (Cumberland University-Phoenix), Elizabeth Brooks- softball (Huntingdon College), Landon Carroll- baseball (Bevill State), Ryan Williams- football (Faulkner University), Kameron Barnett- football (Lindsey Wilson College), Evan Lott- wheelchair basketball (Alabama), Edgerrin Watson- football (North Alabama), Keenan Hill- football (North Alabama), Caila Batchelor- soccer (Central Methodist University), Taylor Tibbs- soccer (UAH), Alivia Eggleston- softball (Freed Hardeman), Sydney Freeman- cross country (Austin Peay), Noah Berry- baseball (Samford), Dakota Daniel- softball (Alabama A&M), Anna Jupin- volleyball (Eckerd College), Emma Hopkins- volleyball (Calhoun College), Santiago Castillo- tennis (Coastal Alabama), Anthony Husser- soccer (Thomas University), Sarah Bierbauer- soccer (North Alabama) and Carlos Loza- soccer (Belhaven University).

Sparkman

The Sparkman Senators had a huge signing class for 2022 and were led by Kenny Hall who played football. Hall tops the 29 student-athletes, including 12 females, who signed scholarships. Hall carried a 4.17 grade point average in the classroom gathering 10 offers including six from Ivey League universities. Through the recruiting process he settled on the Naval Academy where he will play defensive back.

The remainder of the signing class for the Senators included: Luke Schomburg- football (Tennessee-Chattanooga), Jasmine Wade- softball (Stillman College), Calen Lightford- basketball (Wise College-Virginia), Emily Lindsey- bowling (Pikeville-Kentucky), Terrell Young- football (Huntingdon College), Terrant Young- football (Kentucky Wesleyan), Ethan Cuzzort- tennis (Coastal Alabama), Jaleel Birdsong- football (Jacksonville State), Jack Rice- football (North Alabama), Jase Bradley- football (Hampton-Sydney College-Virginia), Demetrius Matthews- football (Georgia Christian College), Lauren Watford- volleyball (Points University- Georgia), Jacob Green- baseball (Oglethorpe University), Tucker Burns- baseball (Wallace State), Kayden Radcliff- softball (Snead State), MyKenzie Hart- softball (Lander University), Kemora Coachman- volleyball (Alabama A&M), Allie Cagle- volleyball (Wallace State), Amanda Paige Davis- track (UAH), Ahmier Cawthorne- track (Butler C.C.-Kansas), Quinton Billups- Cheer (West Georgia), Jada Gibson- cheer (West Georgia), Senna Roberts- cheer (Shelton State), Madison Nesbit- basketball (Snead State), Landon Jacobs- basketball (Cleveland State), Josh Price- basketball (Coastal Alabama) and Kaity Alexander- bowling (University of Mobile).

Madison Academy

Auburn signee Alex Wade leads the signing class of 2022 at Madison Academy. He completed his senior year of baseball being named Player of the Year in Alabama in Class 5A. He was rated the No. 5 player overall in the state and top rated outfielder and was an early commit to sign with the Tigers’ program.

The rest of the 15 total student-athletes who signed scholarships, which included two females included: William Burgreen- baseball (Jacksonville State), Brandon Yeager- baseball (Southern Union), Libby Privett- basketball (Wofford), Drew Blackston- basketball (Trevecca), Lilly Burch- volleyball (Freed-Hardiman), Kanen Hamlett- football (Appalachian State), Tim Spurlock- football (Michigan), Ian Vachon- football (Birmingham Southern), Kaden Young- football (North Alabama), Chuck Moore- football (Pikeville College), John English- football (Berry College), Will Stokes- football (Alabama State), Justin Parker- football (Tenn Valley Prep Sports Academy) and Jack Barrie- lacrosse (Concordia University).