Across the nation, high school student-athletes put pen to paper today to show their commitment to pursuing their athletic endeavors in college. At GPS, three seniors confirmed their intentions to play their sports at the collegiate level.
Nationally, about 7% of 8 million (male and female) high school athletes
will go on to play in college. At GPS, about three times that percentage of our student-athletes achieve that level of athletic accomplishment, a testament to the abilities and dedication of our students, their coaches, and our programming.
"The challenge of reaching the highest level of play for these athletes involves long hours of practice, consistent dedication, and numerous personal
sacrifices,” said Jenise Gordon, Head of Upper School. “Our girls recognized today have put in countless hours away from the spotlight to make themselves as good as they can be.”
Today, three from the Class of 2021 signed letters of intent: Ashley Grant, Mackenzie “Kenzie” Grisar, and Mary “Addie” Youmans.
“We hold his event today in front of all of our students, faculty, and staff, albeit virtually for many of you, because these signings are a celebration for our entire school,” Gordon said. “These girls are not here today without the assistance of their teachers, the guidance of their advisors, and the encouragement of their teammates. These girls have also benefited from the support and direction of their coaches from middle school through their varsity careers.”
Gordon went on to recognize the parents of our athletes for their commitment to their daughters’ pursuits—driving to practices, funding their training, cheering from bleachers and riverbanks.
“These signings today recognize achievements of both athletics and academics,” said Jay Watts, GPS Director of Athletics. “However, it should be noted that college coaches recruit for character as well. Everything from these girls’ transcripts to their social media accounts have been reviewed throughout the recruiting process. They have been identified for both their previous accomplishments as well as their potential to be leaders in the future on a college campus and beyond.”
Ashley Grant | Soccer | Wofford College
Ashley has been a member of the all-region team for four years and the all-state team for two with this year’s state recognition yet to be determined.
She has been a member of one state championship and multiple region championship teams. In her career as a Bruiser, she has scored 64 goals for GPS and added an additional 35 assists. Due in part to her contribution to our program, GPS soccer has been consistently ranked as one of the top 10 teams in the country over the last two seasons. She is a member of the National Honor Society, the Beta Club, and the Health Club.
“We are very excited about signing Ashley to our 2021 class,” said Emily Grant, Head Women’s Coach at Wofford College. “Ashley is an extremely dynamic attacking player. She has the ability to stretch teams with her speed and the technical prowess to combine and break teams down on the dribble. Her hunger to score goals adds a dangerous dynamic to her play. We are looking forward to Ashley’s impact over the course of the next four years.”
Mackenzie “Kenzie” Grisar | Lacrosse | Berry College
Kenzie has been a member of the lacrosse program at GPS since middle school and has been a part of a varsity program that set a school record for wins in one season as a sophomore and reached the state quarterfinals. She is a three-year starter on the Bruiser defense and served as a team captain for the last two years. She has been a member of the National Honor Society, the Beta Club, GPS Ambassadors, and the Bruiser Leadership Committee.
“Kenzie got an early start in the recruiting process at Berry, and we have loved every minute of getting to know her,” said Brittni Hall, Head Women’s Lacrosse Coach at Berry College. “We are looking forward to her becoming a Viking and bringing her lively personality to our team culture as well as her aggressiveness and competitive spirit to our defensive unit.”
Mary “Addie” Youmans | Rowing | Indiana University
Addie has been a member of the GPS Varsity Rowing program for the last three years and was elected a team captain for this current season. As a sophomore, she was part of a Varsity 8 boat that placed sixth at the Scholastic Nationals, where she was the youngest girl in the boat. She attended the USRowing Olympic Development Program for the Southeast Region, medaling in the Women’s Pair and Double, and was also a member of the Women’s Southeast Team in 2019. This year, she has placed first in two events at the Head of the Oklahoma virtual regatta.
“We are extremely excited to have Addie Youmans joining the Indiana University rowing program,” said Steve Peterson, Head Rowing Coach, Indiana University. “IU is one of the top-ranked rowing programs in the country, and it has achieved that success by recruiting athletes with the right attitude, work ethic and character. When we first started talking with Addie, it became very apparent that she possessed all of those qualities and was a great fit for the type of athlete we look for. It’s obvious the sky is the limit for her, and we are excited to see what she will achieve as a Hoosier over the next four years.”