Walking into Lafayette High School on the morning of November 10th was a beautiful sight. The entrance was filled with over 40 students surrounding a table. One would think a celebrity was visiting with all the applause and photos taken. In a way, they were local celebrities, as many students signed their National Letters of Intent to continue their athletic and academic careers at a university.  

Lafayette is known for its athletics, so November signing day, one of two every year, is a special day. There is always a handful of Division 2 or Division 3 commits, along with the special Division 1 commits that excite the entire school. This year we had two: Luke Hanson (University of Virginia, baseball) and Brooke Potter (Wake Forest, soccer). Not to mention the other spectacular athletes who signed to other colleges including Sydney King (Lenoir Rhyne, soccer), Reagan Hunt (Goucher, soccer), Maddison Adcock (Lynchburg, field hockey). 

Luke Hanson has been a varsity starter in both football and baseball since his freshman year, leading the baseball team to a state championship his sophomore year. He verbally committed to play baseball at the University of Virginia in his freshman year! Yes, you read that correctly, he committed to a top 25 division 1 baseball program as a freshman in high school. Many 14-year-olds do not even know what college they are interested in, but Luke Hanson already knew what college he wanted to attend. This did not stop him from continuing to be the best at his sport, if anything it drove him to be better. This past year he was listed as the best shortstop in the state of Virginia. (put in who listed him)

The other Division 1 signee of the day was Brooke Potter. Her story is different from Luke’s though, because she did not play for Lafayette until this last year. Her freshman year she played for a developmental academy, where she was not allowed to play for her High School because of the risk of injury. Due to COVID-19, many MLS teams shut down their DA teams. This was a win for Lafayette though, as the women’s soccer team won regionals in 2020, but their season ended in the state semifinals. It is no surprise they made it that far with 3 NCAA recruits. 

Signing to further your athletic and academic career is a dream come true for many kids. A guarantee for college and continuing to play the sport you love is always a plus. The hard work they put in for years to become the best at their sport and keep their academics up is nothing short of impressive. Brooke and Luke enter an elite class of ACC athletes, a conference known for great academics and even better athletic competition.

 As for the future of Lafayette, I expect a lot more signees in the classes to come and even a few more in this year’s senior class. The year is not over, and it is not the time to count out athletes. Lafayette continues to produce athletes that are spread across the nation at universities. All representing the Rams!