Eleven Rockbridge County High School seniors signed letters of intent to continue their academic and athletic careers at the collegiate level at the school’s spring signing day held on Monday, April 21 at RC’s outdoor pavilion. In addition, three other RC seniors signed their letters separately.
The Wildcats who signed on April 21 – nine to Division III schools, one to a National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Division I school, and one to a community college – were Rebekah Allen (Eastern Mennonite University women’s volleyball), Rio Bucy (Randolph College women’s swimming), Emma Clark (Bridgewater College women’s basketball), Devin D’Antonio (Randolph College men’s wrestling), Brady Edwards (Ferrum College football), Noah Hamm (Southwestern Virginia Community College men’s basketball), Alyssa Hunter (Eastern Mennonite University women’s lacrosse), Jayden Layman (Shenandoah University football), Sydney Remington (Hollins University equestrian), Nolan Stines (Bluefield University baseball, NAIA Division I), and Cameron Terry (Roanoke College cheer).
Gathering in and around the pavilion to watch the seniors sign their letters and celebrate were family members, friends, teammates, coaches, classmates, teachers and administrators.
Signing their letters of intent separately were Brooke Eichelberger, Drew Potter and Spencer Pfaff, all to Division III schools.
A defender for the RC varsity girls soccer team, Eichelberger signed to run cross country for Roanoke College before the Wildcats’ 3-2 home win over Harrisonburg on May 9. Potter, a pitcher and first baseman for the varsity baseball team, signed to play baseball for Gettysburg College in Pennsylvania before the Wildcats’ 4-1 home loss to Fort Defiance on May 8.
Pfaff, who won state titles in the 50-yard and 100-yard freestyle this year, following up on his state title in the 50-yard freestyle last year, signed with Grinnell College in Iowa. He set a Class 3 state meet record in the 50-yard freestyle this year and helped the RC boys place fourth last year and sixth this year.
Allen was a libero for the RC volleyball team, helping the Wildcats go 12-11 and battle their way to the Region 3C semifinals last fall, ending their season with a loss at Alleghany. As a junior in the fall of 2023, Allen helped RC go 27-2, setting a program record for wins, with the Wildcats winning the Valley District regular-season and tournament championships before claiming the Region 3C title and falling 3-2 to Christiansburg in the Class 3 state quarterfinals. She made the all-region second team as a junior and the all-district second team as a senior.
Bucy was a Region 3C meet qualifier in the 50-yard and the 500-yard freestyle this winter for the RC girls swimming team. As a junior, she qualified in the 500-yard freestyle for the Class 3 state meet.
Clark was a talented outside shooter for the RC girls basketball team, helping the Wildcats advance to the Region 3C tournament for the first time in six years. RC went 11-13 to record the second- most wins in program history.
D’Antonio competed at 175-pounds for the RC wrestling team, and he was a backup quarterback for the football team.
Edwards was a defensive end and a tight end for the football team, which went 2-8. He was also a center for the basketball team and is a pitcher for the baseball team.
Hamm was an all-district second-team guard for the RC boys basketball team, which went 1-22. He was a talented shooter and ball handler.
Hunter is a goalie for the RC girls lacrosse team, which ended the regular season last week with a 9-2 record. Last year, she helped the Wildcats win their fourth consecutive Region 4D title and a trip to the Class 4 state championship game, which they lost 12-8 to Western Albemarle.
Layman was the starting quarterback for the RC football team at the beginning of last season before switching to running back and wide receiver. For the RC boys lacrosse team, Layman is an attackman.
Remington has been riding horses for nine years and has competed on the Southwest Virginia circuit, winning multiple year-end awards and honors. She served as the team captain and representative for the National Interscholastic Equestrian Association Youth Board.
Stines is a center fielder for the baseball team, which ended the regular seaspm last week at 5-10.
Terry was an all-state cheerleading for the RC competition cheerleading team last fall, which placed third in the Valley District and won the program’s first-ever regional title before placing eighth in the Class 3 state competition. Terry is a right fielder for the RC softball team.
Eichelberger, a co-captain for the RC girls cross country team last fall, was the Wildcats’ lead runner at the Region 3C meet, where they placed ninth. Eichelberger earned all-district (top 15) honors by placing 14th at the Valley District, helping the Wildcats place fourth. At the Region 3C meet, Eichelberger finished 32nd of 83 runners.
THE 11 RC seniors who signed their letters of intent to play college sports at the spring signing day ceremony on April 21 at the school’s outdoor pavilion were (from left) Noah Hamm, Devin D’Antonio, Rio Bucy, Rebekah Allen, Emma Clark, Alyssa Hunter, Sydney Remington, Cameron Terry, Brady Edwards, Jayden Layman and Nolan Stines. (Jonathan Schwab photo)
WILDCAT SENIOR Drew Potter (third from left) smiles as coaches and family members applaud him after signing his letter of intent to play Division III baseball for Gettysburg College. He is joined by (front row, from left) RC assistant baseball coach Jamie Hostetter, head coach Travis Roadcap, his mother, Kasey; his brother, Chase; his grandma, Betty Rowe; (back row) his grandpa, Chris Rowe, and his father, Chris Potter. (Jonathan Schwab photo)
