Four locals to play college sports

Wednesday was a busy day around the area for local high school student-athletes cementing their future plans. Four locals signed papers confirming their athletic careers would continue at the college level: Northwestern duo Jeff Taylor and Cassie Wancheck, Lewisville’s Alex Reed and York’s Austin Devinney.

Cassie Wancheck was bright and chipper at the first signing of the day, Northwestern’s 7:45 a.m. shindig before school.

“I’m so glad it’s finally in place. I’m so ready to be in college,” Wancheck said.

Will enter a medical program to become a physician’s assistant; all A’s at the moment

Had other good offers from Winthrop, Furman and some other schools.

Wancheck joined the Trojan softball program as a seventh grader, following in the footsteps of her older sister, Kori, probably the best softball player in Northwestern history and now a pitcher at USC Upstate. Wancheck will probably catch at Campbell, but never has at Northwestern because she was needed elsewhere on the diamond.

“I can play anywhere,” said Wancheck, “except pitch. That was all Kori; she needed someone to catch her.”

Jeff Taylor was not as forthcoming as Wancheck, but that had nothing to do with time of day. In fact, Taylor, a senior baseball standout headed to USC Upstate, is pretty simpatico with longtime Trojans coach Mitch Walters for that very reason: neither wastes words.

“Jeff likes to work, not talk,” said Walters. “He gets in there and grinds. Does more, stays after.”

An outfielder with good grades, Taylor plans on majoring in physical education and would like to become a middle school or high school coach after college.

“I liked the campus and they play a lot of really good teams and the coaching staff seemed cool,” Taylor said.

Taylor’s older brother Eric pitches at Furman.

“It was something I was working toward,” said Jeff, who throws right-handed and bats left-handed. “Maybe took a little longer than I expected but I got there.”

Alex Reed plays catcher and is located closest to the backstop on any baseball diamond. He signed to play baseball at Brunswick Community College, located near Wilmington, N.C., on Tuesday, a big relief before his senior season begins in the spring.

“You don’t have to turn around and look for coaches, see if there’s coaches in the stands,” he said. “You can just chill out and do what you’ve got to do and just play. I’m excited.”

Reed teared up when thanking his family for supporting his development in the game, including constant hours driving across the southeastern United States to travel tournaments, and met a reporter with a firm handshake.

“It’s stressful finding colleges,” he said. “I’m glad it’s over with.”

Reed gets A’s and B’s in school and qualified with the NCAA eligibility clearinghouse. That means he can move on from junior college baseball if things go well. Robbie Allen’s seven-year old Brunswick Dolphins baseball program has already had great success moving players on to Division I and II colleges, owing in part to Allen’s connections with coaches throughout the country.

“He is so serious about grades, so serious. If you don’t go to class, you don’t play,” said Reed. “I love him, though. You gain respect from him right when you meet him.”

Austin Devinney capped off the day by signing to play baseball at Pfeiffer.

Pfeiffer coaches scouted Devinney in the fall and he committed in early October after a visit, according to coach Eddie Tisdale. Devinney has a 3.2 grade point average and has played varsity baseball at York the last two years.

This story was originally published November 16, 2016 at 5:01 PM with the headline "Four locals to play college sports."