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Apr. 30—MORGANTOWN — On Wednesday morning, six Morgantown High School student-athletes signed to continue their academic and athletic careers, each with a different destination.
Players from the MHS boys' soccer, football, and volleyball programs all sealed the next four years of their careers inside the MHS library on Wilson Avenue, in the company of their family, friends, teammates, and coaches.
Riley Brabson will play Division I soccer at Mercyhurst, and Lucie Hatcher will play basketball at D'Youville University in Buffalo, New York. Kylan Blunt heads to Kentucky Christian University to join the football program, while a trio of state champions in Audrey Buck, Giatta Iquinto, and Ellie Thornton are continuing their volleyball careers at Arkansas-Fort Smith, West Virginia State, and Waynesburg Universities.
"From the time I started playing soccer, I've always dreamed of playing at the highest level, and when Mercyhurst started competing in Division I, that played a huge factor into my decision, " Brabson said. "It's also nice being close to home."
Riley was one of the better attacking players in the state last season, finishing with 28 goals and 18 assists for the Mohigans.
"Whenever I get the ball, I'm just looking to help my team score, " he said. "Either scoring myself or finding a teammate, that's the one thing on my mind when the ball comes to me."
Lucie Hatcher says she didn't seriously consider college basketball until her junior season at Morgantown.
"Being able to have this opportunity after deciding late in the process means a lot to me, " she said. "I sent over a hundred emails out with my name, highlights, and graduation year to any coaches I could to try and get an opportunity. In those later stages, it's hard because in today's world, coaches look earlier in the year."
Lucie says her visit to D'Youville was her first time visiting Buffalo, and she enjoyed the campus and the surrounding area. She also knows it's a good thing her sport is played indoors.
"It's definitely going to be cold, though, " she said.
Kylan Blunt will join the secondary for Kentucky Christian.
"When I visited, they brought me in and I was excited to be there, " he said. "It was like no other college when it comes to the energy they had there. Everything went great on my visit. They want me to come in as a safety and said they like how I track the ball."
Buck, Iquinto, and Thornton, the trio of 2024 state champions, all made a significant impact on the MHS volleyball program during their careers.
Thornton says her process happened quickly with the Yellowjackets.
"I reached out to Coach Hope a few weeks ago, and when we met, she told me her plans to turn the program into a winning one, and that's what I wanted to hear, " she said. "They said they enjoyed my film, which was really it from there."
Iquinto will head south to Institute just outside Charleston to play for WVSU. She says she was on the fence about playing in college until head coach Shannon Gerencir sold the idea.
"The way she spoke about the program and the athletics at State in general stood out to me, " Iquinto said. "The team was welcoming, and I enjoyed the campus. Volleyball is special to me and will always hold a special place in my heart. I've loved it since the first time I touched a ball."
Audrey Buck suffered a season-ending knee injury in the fall of 2024, ending her playing career at MHS and making her future in the sport, which was once fairly straightforward, slightly unknown.
However, Buck is getting her chance to continue playing the sport she loves and do it collegiately, as she will join the program at Arkansas-Fort Smith in the fall.
"In some ways, I think my injury helped me find my love for volleyball again, " Buck said. "Having the chance to come back and play again is very special to me. Volleyball lets me be myself. Especially when I'm able to do it with my friends and teammates, who all make it so much fun for me. My time here has prepared me for the next level because it feels like we've been through it all as a program, which has helped build character for all of us."
Buck leaves MHS as the all-time leader in assists, breaking the record with 1, 210.
"I'm thankful to be recognized and to be able to bring light to the setting position, " she said. "As a setter, your goal is to help shed some light on your hitters, so it makes my day when I'm able to have the chance to show how important the position is."
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Players from the MHS boys' soccer, football, and volleyball programs all sealed the next four years of their careers inside the MHS library on Wilson Avenue, in the company of their family, friends, teammates, and coaches.
Riley Brabson will play Division I soccer at Mercyhurst, and Lucie Hatcher will play basketball at D'Youville University in Buffalo, New York. Kylan Blunt heads to Kentucky Christian University to join the football program, while a trio of state champions in Audrey Buck, Giatta Iquinto, and Ellie Thornton are continuing their volleyball careers at Arkansas-Fort Smith, West Virginia State, and Waynesburg Universities.
"From the time I started playing soccer, I've always dreamed of playing at the highest level, and when Mercyhurst started competing in Division I, that played a huge factor into my decision, " Brabson said. "It's also nice being close to home."
Riley was one of the better attacking players in the state last season, finishing with 28 goals and 18 assists for the Mohigans.
"Whenever I get the ball, I'm just looking to help my team score, " he said. "Either scoring myself or finding a teammate, that's the one thing on my mind when the ball comes to me."
Lucie Hatcher says she didn't seriously consider college basketball until her junior season at Morgantown.
"Being able to have this opportunity after deciding late in the process means a lot to me, " she said. "I sent over a hundred emails out with my name, highlights, and graduation year to any coaches I could to try and get an opportunity. In those later stages, it's hard because in today's world, coaches look earlier in the year."
Lucie says her visit to D'Youville was her first time visiting Buffalo, and she enjoyed the campus and the surrounding area. She also knows it's a good thing her sport is played indoors.
"It's definitely going to be cold, though, " she said.
Kylan Blunt will join the secondary for Kentucky Christian.
"When I visited, they brought me in and I was excited to be there, " he said. "It was like no other college when it comes to the energy they had there. Everything went great on my visit. They want me to come in as a safety and said they like how I track the ball."
Buck, Iquinto, and Thornton, the trio of 2024 state champions, all made a significant impact on the MHS volleyball program during their careers.
Thornton says her process happened quickly with the Yellowjackets.
"I reached out to Coach Hope a few weeks ago, and when we met, she told me her plans to turn the program into a winning one, and that's what I wanted to hear, " she said. "They said they enjoyed my film, which was really it from there."
Iquinto will head south to Institute just outside Charleston to play for WVSU. She says she was on the fence about playing in college until head coach Shannon Gerencir sold the idea.
"The way she spoke about the program and the athletics at State in general stood out to me, " Iquinto said. "The team was welcoming, and I enjoyed the campus. Volleyball is special to me and will always hold a special place in my heart. I've loved it since the first time I touched a ball."
Audrey Buck suffered a season-ending knee injury in the fall of 2024, ending her playing career at MHS and making her future in the sport, which was once fairly straightforward, slightly unknown.
However, Buck is getting her chance to continue playing the sport she loves and do it collegiately, as she will join the program at Arkansas-Fort Smith in the fall.
"In some ways, I think my injury helped me find my love for volleyball again, " Buck said. "Having the chance to come back and play again is very special to me. Volleyball lets me be myself. Especially when I'm able to do it with my friends and teammates, who all make it so much fun for me. My time here has prepared me for the next level because it feels like we've been through it all as a program, which has helped build character for all of us."
Buck leaves MHS as the all-time leader in assists, breaking the record with 1, 210.
"I'm thankful to be recognized and to be able to bring light to the setting position, " she said. "As a setter, your goal is to help shed some light on your hitters, so it makes my day when I'm able to have the chance to show how important the position is."
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