By Marty Gordon
CHRISTIANSBURG – Fourteen student-athletes signed letters of intent Wednesday at Christiansburg High School to continue their playing career in college.
Madelyn Grace Moles signed to run track and field at James Madison University. Moles competed in track and field all four years at Christiansburg High School. She won two indoor and one outdoor state championships. She was the Female Field Event Indoor athlete of the year at the State meet in 2023. She will be graduating CHS with an associate degree from New River Community College and is on the President’s list at New River. At James Madison, Moles plans to major in Nursing.
Cadence Spaulding has committed to playing lacrosse at Emory and Henry College. She was named captain of the lacrosse team her junior and senior year. She is also a member of the National Honor Society, BETA, on the Dean’s and President’s list at NRCC and has her Certified Nursing Assistant License. At Emory and Henry, Cadence plans to major in Nursing.
Mckenna Spaulding committed to run Cross Country and Track at Carson- Newman University. During her time running at CHS, she is a four-year Varsity Cross Country and Indoor/Outdoor Track team member while winning the 4×800 Region Championship and being a four time All Region Runner. Carson-Newman, McKenna plans to major in Exercise Science.
Marshall Basham will play baseball at Concord University. During his time playing baseball at CHS, he was named First Team All-Region 3D catcher and Second Team All-Class 3 Catcher in 2022 and was the Junior Varsity Defensive Player of the Year in 2019 as an eighth grader. At Concord College, Marshall plans to major in Health Sciences with an emphasis in Physical Therapy.
Thaxton Henley is headed to Alfred State College to play baseball where he plans to major in Construction Management.
Mason Self will play baseball at Radford University. During his time playing baseball at CHS, He has been named First Team All-River Ridge District First Base, River Ridge District Player of the Year, First Team All-Region 3D First Base, Second Team All-Region 3D Pitcher and First Team All-Class 3 First Base. He was named the 2022 all-county/all-city baseball player of the year, is a Ray Bellamy Memorial Award winner and first CHS athlete to be inducted into the High School Hall of Fame. He is also a member of SGA, HOSA, BETA and the National Honor Society. At Radford University, Mason plans to major in Health and Allied Sciences.
Lawson Mecom will run Cross Country and Track at Western Carolina University. He was a member of the 2019-20 VHSL Class 3 Cross Country Team State Runner-up. He holds the Cross Country school record for the 5K at 15:32. Lawson is also the school record holder for the Indoor Track 3200 with a time of 9:25. He was all state Cross country in 20, 21 and 22, All state in indoor track and outdoor track in 2021 in the 3200, All state in indoor and outdoor track in 2022 in the 3200 and in 2022 in the 1600 and all state in indoor track in 2023 in the 1600. At Western Carolina, he plans to major in Biology.
Alexander Turner will attend Campbell University where he will compete in cross country and track. He ran in the state cross country meet his junior and senior year and ran in the state outdoor track meet his senior year. At Campbell, Alexander plans to study Kinesiology.
Joshua Starr has committed to run Cross Country and Track at Milligan University. Joshua is also a member of the Beta Club and National Honor Society. At Milligan University, he plans to study Mechanical Engineering.
Curtis Altizer will attend Bluefield University where he plans to play football. He was 1st Team All District and 1st Team All-Region Linebacker and Fullback in 2021 and 2022, River Ridge District and Region 3D Defensive player of the year in 2022, All County Defensive Player of the Year in 2021 and 2022 and was 2nd Team All State Linebacker in 2022. At Bluefield, Curtis plans to major in Physical Therapy.
Kendric Long is headed to Averett University to play football. He received the Effort Award for Varsity Football in 2022. At Averett, Kendric plans to major in Mathematics.
Caleb Yopp has committed to play soccer at Pfeiffer University. He was named Captain of the CHS varsity soccer team and is a member of the VBR Soccer Club and their USL Academy. At Pfeiffer, Caleb plans to major in Exercise Science.
J J Posicask will wrestle at King University. He has wrestled all four years at Christiansburg High School, is a three-time region placer, two-time state qualifier placing fourth in 2022 and making the top eight in 2023, 2022 Titan Toughman Runner-up, 2022 Take Down the New Year Champion and a 2023 WSAZ placer.
Aiden Conley has committed to play football at Marshall University. He has played football for four years at CHS and was first team all-state offensive and defensive lineman in 2022 and was named the all-county/all-city lineman of the year for the past two seasons. He was also first-team all-region and all-district in 2021 and 2022.