By Bob Sutton
Special to The Alamance News
Numerous members of the Class of 2025 from area high schools have indicated their intents to compete in collegiate athletics.
Here’s a list of some of those athletes and destinations (that haven’t been previously reported in The Alamance News):
Basketball
Members of Western Alamance’s Class 3-A state champion girls’ team will play at the next level.
Forward Tina Bowers signed with Western Carolina. “A great fit for her where she might be able to go in and play right now,” Western coach Tooey Loy said.
Guard Allie Sykes announced last month that she’s going to Division I Presbyterian instead of Division II Lenoir-Rhyne.
Sykes wasn’t on the list of eight newcomers that Presbyterian welcomed to the program in a June 16 announcement. A little more than a week later, the Blue Hose announced on social media the signing of Sykes.
Last July, Sykes committed to Lenoir-Rhyne. More recently, the Bears had a coaching change in late May, with Grahm Smith leaving for a job at Palm Beach Atlantic.
Sykes, who was Most Valuable Player of the Class 3-A state championship game, was a four-year player for Western, though in the spring of 2024 she made intentions known that she was joining the Winston-Salem Christian program before ending up back at Western last August for the start of her senior school year.
Guard Emma Johnson picked Division III Eastern Mennonite.
Track and field
Cummings athlete Brooke Packingham is going to Division II Winston-Salem State.
Softball
Pitcher Delani Straughan of Eastern Alamance is heading to Division III Averett in Danville, Virginia.
Soccer
Boys’ players from Southeast Alamance found landing spots.
Defenseman Terrell Sanders picked Montreat, forward Edgar Carbajal is going to William Peace, and midfielder Isaac Gonzalez chose Louisburg College, so they all have in-state destinations. Forward Bailey Frye is going to Bethany College, a Division III school in West Virginia.
Football
Several Eastern Alamance players picked spots, including running back Tyrek Samuel as walk-on to Gardner-Webb.
Zephaniah Gattis and defensive back Coty Chambliss are headed to Barton College. Receiver/defensive back Deshan Hairston selected Guilford College.
- From Williams, receiver Bron Rogers accepted a spot as a preferred walk-on at North Carolina A&T.
- Defensive back Leontae Turner chose Chowan.
- Former Williams receiver Cam’ron Jones, who played his final two seasons with Reidsville, signed with Morgan State.
