Decision Time: Morlock to Michigan State highlights recent local college choices

Norwayne's Colby Morlock and Grace Sparks and Tuslaw twins Nathan and Vanessa Frascone headline the latest group of local student-athletes to make their college choices official.

All four have played prominent roles on their respective teams.

Morlock has already cemented himself as one of the area's best throwers ever. He still has a chance to break both the discus and shot put all-time records set in 2002 and 1981, respectively. On Monday night he signed a letter of intent to continue his academic and athletic careers at Michigan State University.

"It just felt like home from the first time I stepped on campus and I was treated like family," said Morlock. "I am very excited to be able to have such a great opportunity at the next level."

As a Spartan, Morlock will major in agriculture business as he keeps true to his roots planted in Creston. A big part of that has been the consistent competitions from his brother Dillon, who loves nothing more than to steal an event from him on his last throw.

"Probably just being able to go out to practice or a meet and being able to spend time with great people and teammates," said Morlock about what he will miss the most about his time as a Bobcat. "Also being able to compete with Dillon every day and help each other out."

Sparks is another Norwayne thrower who has firmly entrenched herself as one of the area's best. A year ago, she advanced to state in the discus, and Monday night she signed to throw at Div. I Youngstown State University.

"I chose YSU because of their academics and I believe they have one of the best forensic science departments in the country, maybe the world," said Sparks, who plans to major in forensic science. "I know most people figure that I decided to go here because of athletics, but that's what caught my eye."

With the process now completed, Sparks is looking forward to focusing on the stretch run upcoming and preparing for another deep postseason run.

"I am very excited because this is my last year as a Bobcat thrower and I'm doing my best to make plenty of amazing memories with Coach Bri (Indorf) and my teammates," she said. "They have been nothing but good to me and they have always been there to calm me down before and during a meet. I don't know where I'd be without them."

As for wrapping up a standout career for Norwayne, Sparks reflected back on some of the great memories with Indorf and the Morlock family. She smiled when talking about the support so many have given her and how blessed she has been to be part of the program.

"I have had a blast," said Sparks. "The main reason for that is me being a track athlete and meeting so many kind people through indoor and outdoor track, it's been amazing."

Nathan Frascone's senior year was undermined by an injury, but the talented big man still finished his final season strong to help his team. He wrapped up his career with 661 total rebounds, which put him 10th all-time in area history, scored 716 points and had 65 blocked shots. He's headed to Div. I Robert Morris University, where he will continue his basketball career as a preferred walk on and will major either in computer information systems or software engineering.

"My AAU coach knew the director of basketball there and he ended watching some of our games and then reached out," Frascone said. "It pretty much came down to financials, talking back and forth to their coaches, developing a great relationship and then picking a school."

He said the Colonials offered an opportunity to continue to grow as both a student and athlete.

"It was the best opportunity, getting to play with the best guys in college basketball and it's just a whole another level," he added. "I feel that I have the body to do it. Their weight room will also help me to get better.

"Academically, they are really good and they have a really nice campus. I will be there all summer, so it will be a great chance to get used to it and be best version that I can be."

Frascone said he enjoyed everything about his time as a Mustang. Pointing out how much he grew, learned and improved through the program each year, he said it was experience to remember.

"Every year was fun, from my freshman year where we hooped a lot and I was just treated like another one of the guys, and my senior year when Ty (Pratt) got 1,000 points," said Nathan. "I will always cherish the relationships built here. I felt like everyone was pretty close, especially this past year. It was just fun. Everyone wanted to work, and I am grateful for every year here as they brought me along and helped me learn."

Vanessa Frascone also battled injuries throughout her high school career as a Mustang, but that didn't prevent her from shining on the hardwood. She made her decision to continue her basketball career at Div. III Bethany College in West Virginia, where she will major in sports management and physical education with a minor in special education and coaching.

"I really liked the environment and how it was a small college, that was the fit that I was looking for," she said. "I also really liked the team and the coaches."

With her basketball career at Tuslaw officially over, Frascone had the chance reflect on her four years in the program. She also looked back at the countless other years spent playing with her teammates in the program beyond high school.

"I loved being able to play in a community where everyone supported us, being able to play with my friends and be on a winning team all four years," she said. "My favorite memory was winning districts my sophomore year."

Central Christian

At the end of March, Comets standouts Caden Granger and Armand Silva celebrated their college choices. Granger, who scored 13.1 points per game as a senior, decided to attend and play basketball at Div. III Bluffton University. Silva was a key contributor to Central Christian's eighth straight regional appearance this past season, playing a big role in the center of the pitch. He will continue his soccer career at Div. II Malone University.

West Holmes

It isn't often that someone gets to experience both sides of the Triway and West Holmes rivalry, but Knights standout Channer Wells did exactly that. He played a big role for the Titans for three years before finishing where he grew up as a Knight and finished with 1,019 points for his career. In a ceremony at West Holmes, he celebrated his decision to play basketball at Div. III Bethany College in West Virginia.

"It was really the only college who stuck with me through the whole recruiting process and it felt like home when I went on a visit," said Wells. "They had a rough year last season, so I accepted the challenge to try to turn the program around.

"The coaches are really nice and just great people overall. Add in the possibility that my brother and I could re-unite again, that would be really special to me."

Waynedale

In a recent ceremony at Waynedale High School, Dawson Troyer chose to play basketball and join up with Wells at Bethany College. Troyer averaged 9.9 points this past season to help the Golden Bears reach the Div. III district tournament.

This article originally appeared on The Daily Record: Norwayne's Morlock signs with Michigan State to lead local signings