Four Abilene High athletes from three girls programs celebrated with family and friends Wednesday as they made their college decisions official during a signing day ceremony at Eagle Gym.

Volleyball players Yasmine DeLaGarza (Vernon College) and Amelia Carr (Arlington Baptist), track athlete Adriahna Peeples (Hardin-Simmons) and soccer player Laila Brown (McMurry) all announced where they’d be continuing their academic and athletic careers, adding to a successful athletic year for AHS girls programs that will continue this weekend when the Lady Eagles softball team meets Wylie in the Region I-5A quarterfinals.

Wednesday’s four signees bring the list of Abilene High seniors who will compete collegiately to 16 for the school year after nine signed on Feb. 7 and three more did so on April 30.

The four celebrating their college decisions Wednesday were all smiles, each expressing confidence in the choices they made.

For the two volleyball players, who were key components of a multi-year turnaround under coach Caroline Cleveland, that included a decision to leave Abilene for college.

That will require some adjustment for two girls who were contributing members of the Lady Eagles’ region tournament team in 2023 before helping AHS back to the playoffs this past season. But both feel they’re headed where they belong.

DeLaGarza, a two-year lettermen as a defensive specialist who earned second-team all-District 4-5A honors as a senior while garnering all-district and all-state recognition for her work in the classroom, said Vernon College was a natural fit.

“It was really the coach (Veronika Webb). It felt right in the moment,” she said. “She really supported me and fought for me to go there and it just felt like home.”

Carr, meanwhile, wasn’t sure she would have the chance to play volleyball past high school. But when she was first approached by Arlington Baptist, she knew that’s where she wanted to to be.

“I really didn’t think I’d have the opportunity to play, so being able to is really exciting,” said the talented right-side hitter, a three-year varsity player who was also a second-team all-district pick this past season. “About halfway through Christmas break the coach (Kristi McDaniel) texted me. She had watched all my Hudl highlights and then she reached out to me.

“I went down to Arlington and I met her, and we instantly clicked. It just seemed like the perfect place for me.”

DeLaGarza and Carr became the third and fourth players to sign to play college volleyball from the 2023 team, which snapped a playoff drought dating back to 2015. They join 2023 seniors Jadyn Hernandez (Hardin-Simmons) and Alexis Dolton (Vernon College).

Both said they’re proud of the role they played in laying a foundation for future success at Abilene High.

“I feel like (our success was) very impactful, and I feel like it just leaves a clear way for everyone else to come through,” Carr said.

Added DeLaGarza: “I feel like we made a huge impact, and I hope we have left (the program) good for future athletes.”

Wednesday’s other signees also played pivotal roles for their programs at Abilene High.

Peeples, a two-time area-meet qualifier in the 100- and 300-meter hurdles, earned her first trip to the Region I-5A meet in both events in her final high school season this spring.

And Brown had a strong four-year career for the AHS soccer program, highlighted by a stellar junior campaign that saw her tally 32 goals and 16 assists on her way to earning District Offensive MVP and Texas Association of Soccer Coaches all-region honors while leading the Lady Eagles to the Region I-5A tournament.

Both chose to stay in Abilene for their collegiate careers, citing the opportunity to stay home as a perk of their decision.

“I think McMurry is a very much a family school, and I just wanted to go somewhere I’m comfortable,” said Brown, whose cousin Tristen Hall is a football player at the South Abilene school. “I’m still home, so that’s the best part.”

Peeples agreed. 

“(I also considered) Texas Southern, but Hardin-Simmons was the one that reached out to me first,” she said. “(Staying home) was important to me, too, because I didn’t want to leave my family.”

Wednesday’s ceremony was all about family and friends. And all four athletes expressed appreciation for the many who showed up to support them.

“This is an amazing feeling,” DeLaGarza said. “Getting to do it in front of all my supporters and my friends, it’s just an amazing feeling.”