Seven GHS athletes sign national letters of intent

On Monday, Granbury High School hosted a Letter of Intent Day at the James Wann Sports Center for seven athletes who will be taking their skills to the next level in college competition next year.

Seniors Ellie Alexander, Sara Folsom, Ty Holbrook, Mason Lewis, and Tyler Sudderth gathered with their families and put pen to paper in front of hundreds of their fellow athletes. Kimberlee Joyce and Matthew Walters are also committed to colleges but had family unavailable and will “officially” sign later.

The signees include two athletes each from the GHS baseball, golf, and volleyball programs and a precision shooter out of the Marine Corps JROTC program.

VOLLEYBALL

Ellie Alexander led the Lady Pirates with 328 kills this season and was second in blocks (106) and digs with 464. Alexander had her offer and commitment to play for UT-Tyler midway through the volleyball season.

Kimberlee Joyce recorded 123 digs, 51 assists, and a service percentage of 92.9 for GHS this year. A late bloomer, Joyce is the type of team player that her commitment, Howard Payne University, needs.

BASEBALL

Right-handed pitcher Tyler Sudderth and centerfielder Matthew Walters were first-team all-district in 5-5A baseball last year and helped lead the Pirates to Granbury’s third-best season ever with a 23-9 record.

Sudderth (Tarleton State University) posted a sizzling 1.37 earned run average in district play. He struck out 34 and walked only 11 in 30.2 innings. Walters (Cornell University) did the damage with his bat as he hit .348, stroking two home runs and three triples.

GOLF

Ty Holbrook is the first Texan to sign with the University of Colorado’s golf program since 2012, and he was recently named Scholar-Athlete of the Week through a program sponsored by WFAA-TV Channel 8. Holbrook tied for third place at the state golf tournament last season with a score of one-under-par 143 (72-71)

Mason Lewis (University of North Texas) is the returning Class 5A Girls Player of the Year after winning the 5A state championship last season with a 104 (68-72). Lewis was honored as the Athlete of the Year by the Texas Girls Coaches Association during the Granbury ISD school board meeting on Oct. 18.

SHOOTING

No one in Granbury has ever earned a Junior Distinguished Badge from the Civilian Marksmanship Program faster than precision-shooter Sara Folsom (United States Military Academy at West Point). Folsom was last year’s precision individual in the JROTC national championships, as Granbury also won the national team title.

Russell@hcnews.com | 817-573-7066 ext. 231