Coronado’s Final Round of Student Athletes Commit

Mara Abernethy, Sports Editor

In the Coronado High School Athletic Department’s third and final committing ceremony of the 2016-2017 school year, Coronado student athletes and graduating seniors Madison Brown, April Eldridge, Allie Garcia, and Kaira Smith committed to the athletic programs of their respective colleges.

Garcia, a four-year Coronado varsity volleyball player and Coronado varsity golfer, as well as a member of the 2015-2016 Colorado 5A All-State Second Team for volleyball, committed to Columbia College in Columbia, Missouri, on a volleyball scholarship. Garcia concluded her high school volleyball career with 950 digs and 70 aces, as well as two state-qualifying performances in her freshman through junior seasons of varsity golf.

Brown, an outside on the Coronado varsity volleyball team and a four-year varsity runner on the the Coronado track team, committed to Central Arizona College in Coolidge, Arizona on a track and volleyball scholarship. Brown concluded her high school volleyball career with 561 kills, 66 blocks, 454 digs, and 99 aces, and is currently attempting to qualify for the Colorado 5A State Track Meet in four events.

Eldridge, a wing/shooting guard with the Coronado varsity basketball team committed to play collegiate basketball with the Grace University Royals in Omaha, Nebraska. Eldridge will graduate as one of six Coronado basketball seniors, and in her single season playing at Coronado high school, scored 19 pts., had three blocks, 18 rebounds, and a 73% free throw percentage.

Smith, an outside/setter on the Coronado varsity volleyball team and recipient of an honorable mention from the 2015-2016 Colorado 5A All-State Volleyball Selection Committee as well as a letterwinner in not only volleyball but also women’s soccer and track and field, committed to Indian River State College in Fort Pierce, Florida. Smith concluded her varsity high school volleyball career with 785 digs, 155 assists, 79 aces, and 625 kills.

Following short speeches by Coronado Athletic Director Andrew Colgate, retired Coronado varsity volleyball coach Don Lash, Coronado varsity basketball coach Yantz Roberts, and Coronado principal Darin Smith, the four athletes signed their National Letters of Intent in the Coronado Media Center, formally committing them to their respective colleges. Allie Garcia said, “Committing to play volleyball at the collegiate level has been my dream as long as I remember,” and “not only did I get to sign, but I got to sign with my best friends, I have never felt so close to two teammates and playing without them will be one of the the most difficult parts of leaving Coronado volleyball.”

Congrats seniors!