ShawneeDispatch.com

Four student-athletes from St. James Academy on Wednesday, Nov. 11, signed national letters of intent to compete in college athletics.

Seniors Lauren Brown and Morgan Tholen signed to play NCAA Division I volleyball. They become the third and fourth players in the fifth-year program’s history to sign with D-I schools, joining Kelly Kolich (College of Charleston) and Rachel Gray (Virginia) from last year’s senior class.

Brown will play volleyball at Appalachian State University in Boone, N.C. She was a four-year starter for St. James and led the Thunder to three straight appearances in the Class 4A state championship game and back-to-back state titles.

Brown was a two-time Class 4A All-State Tournament Team selection, and she is a three-time Academic All-State honoree. She is St. James’ all-time leader in assists with 1,847 in her four-year career and also ranks first in career aces. She also is third in career digs, third in solo blocks and second in block assists.

She helped her club team, Mid-America Volleyball, finish fifth at the Junior Olympics in 2009.

“Lauren is an exceptional setter who has had an amazing high school and club career so far,” Appalachian State coach Matt Ginipro said in a release by the school. “She’s extremely quick and puts the ball in the perfect locations for her hitters to be successful.”

Tholen was a member of both 2008 and 2009 championship teams as well, but she missed most of her senior season with a broken ankle. She will play at the University of Colorado in Boulder, Colo.

She helped her club team, KC Extreme, to a ninth-place finish at the USA Volleyball Junior Olympics.

“Morgan has a great work ethic and is a very positive player,” CU coach Liz Kritza said in a press release. “She has played on some great teams, both high school and club. She has wanted to be a Buff for a long time as her dad is a CU alum and she has a lot of family in the area. We look forward to having her as a member of the CU Volleyball family.”

In addition, senior Kara McCaughey — a member of St. James’ back-to-back girls soccer state championship teams — inked a soccer scholarship with Division I South Dakota State University.

McCaughey’s biggest impact on the field arguably has been her passing. She assisted on the game-winning goal of the 2008 state quarterfinals and the first goal of the 2008 state championship game.

Senior Chelsea Zillner also signed with a Division I school. She will compete in equestrian at Auburn University. She has competed for the past 12 years in quarter horse competitions across the country, and this year she was a semifinalist at the 2009 American Quarter Horse Congress in Columbus, Ohio.

“The St. James community is very proud of these young women and wish them much success in their college careers,” St. James activities director Mark Huppe said. “They have all worked very hard to achieve this goal and should be commended for their efforts.”

Comments