by Morgan McLellan

On National Signing Day Wednesday, Feb. 5, Landrum High School coaches, family and friends watched as four seniors signed to continue their athletic careers into the colleges of each students choosing.

Aaron Bryant was the first to complete his official signing.

Bryant will attend Shorter University in the fall and play football. Bryant, who threw for 2,378 yards, tossed 22 touchdowns and ran for 2,034 yards and 28 touchdowns, was a leader for the Cardinals. Bryant considered several schools but found Shorter to be the best fit.

“The coaches really invited me in,” Bryant said.

Three female runners, all who have been members of the last two state championship cross country teams, signed with colleges on Wednesday as well.

Paige Herbst committed to The Citadel for both cross country and track and field.

“Not a lot of girls go there but my brother is there so that helps a lot and it is a Division 1 school so there is more competition for me,” Herbst said.

Elizabeth Walter signed after Herbst. Walter has chosen to continue running cross country at Newberry College. Walter ran six years for Landrum and is “excited to get a new experience from the little town of Landrum.”

“Once I visited and got to meet some of the girls, I fell in love with Newberry,” Walter said.

Alongside Walter, Sarah Cash has run a total of six years for LHS. Cash signed with Southern Wesleyan University to contribute to their newly growing cross country and track and field teams. Cash visited many schools, but chose SWU because they “had a really good education program, which I first looked at, and the team there had a really strong bond.”

“They just built a new track and received a grant to construct a new course for the cross country team, so I thought it would be a good opportunity for me to take,” Cash said.

Superintendent Ron Garner said the coaches and administrators are “very proud of each and everyone of them, and very proud of the school as a whole.”

This is the first year that Head Cross Country and Track and Field coach Jeremy Darby has signed three athletes at once.

“I haven’t even been able to really absorb it yet, it’s just pretty incredible. Not one but three tells you just how dominant this team has been for the last six years,” Darby said.

Head football coach and girls track and field coach Russell Mahaffey hopes all four will be successful athletically and academically.

“It’s always exciting to see kids who have come through here and been successful in the programs, be able to take what they’ve learned here and then move on to the next level,” Mahaffey said.