13 Ocean Springs student athletes sign to play at next level

December 8, 2023

Ansley Brent,

It was a day for celebration for the Ocean Springs Athletic Department. Thirteen student athletes officially put pen to paper to further their academic and athletic careers.

The girls soccer program had the biggest signing class with five total signees and they’ll be going to two different programs. Parker St. Amant and Jaylen Bodry will be going to Mississippi College while Ava Green, Laurel Conley, and Briana Gasaway will be playing at MGCCC.

For the boys soccer program, three athletes will be staying together at the next level as Drew Rumery, Zach Howard, and Landen Melnik take their talents to PRCC.

For the Greyhound softball team, Caitlyn Ludwig signed with Millsaps College, Brooklyn Peterson signed with MGCCC, and Farrah James signed with Jones College.

With the baseball program, Chris Fox put pen to paper with Meridian Community College while Maddox Moreland let the ink dry with Holmes Community College.

A few athletes took time to tell WXXV what this milestone moment means to them. St. Amant said, “It doesn’t even feel real to be honest. I remember being a freshman and seeing the older girls sign and I had no clue where I was going to go and just the fact that I’m here today is just kind of unbelievable. It’s bittersweet because I love these girls so much. We’ve grown up together and we’ve played since we were little and to know we’re all here today finally signing and fulfilling our big dreams that we’ve had for so long just means everything to me.”

Fox said, “It feels great. I’m super excited to get up there and start playing. It’s something I’ve always wanted to do my whole entire life and I can’t wait to get started.”

Peterson said, “It felt great knowing that all my hard work has paid off and all the sleepless nights and waking up so early and all the work, all the practice, all the sacrifices like missing friend’s events and birthdays, my nephew’s birthdays, just missing all that just felt so worth it today to have everybody here and know that all my hard work was paid off.”