Next stop college: Six Stuarts Draft athletes celebrate their decisions at school ceremony

STUARTS DRAFT — Leah Wood finally hit 12 feet during the pole vault competition at the recent Shenandoah District track and field championships.

The Stuarts Draft senior would like to add another half a foot to that before she finishes her high school career, although she said anything above 12 feet would be fine with her. Wood still has the Region 2B meet Wednesday at East Rockingham High School and the Class 2 state meet in early June at James Madison University to reach that goal.

Last Friday, though, it was her college career that she was thinking about. Along with five other Stuarts Draft High School athletes, Wood celebrated her college decision in the school's gym lobby.

Wood will be attending Liberty University on a track scholarship. Sitting behind a table with her classmates, committing not only to a college track program, but an NCAA Division I program, was mind-boggling to Wood.

"I think it's crazy," she said. "I never thought when I came into high school that I would get a chance to sit up there. It's just a very thankful feeling."

Wood didn't pick up the sport until she was a freshman in high school. Now, with one more state championship remaining, she has won four state titles, including three indoor. Her sophomore outdoor championship was canceled because of the pandemic.

Wood also considered East Tennessee State and Coastal Carolina, but in the end Liberty won her heart. Wood said she loved the atmosphere surrounding the Lynchburg school and, of course the chance to be part of a Division I athletics program didn't hurt when it came time to make a choice.

"It was a place I could see myself in the next four years," she said.

Her mom, Cristie Wood, said not a lot of people see behind the scenes when it comes to how much work her daughter puts into pole vaulting. They travel to Lynchburg to train, meaning most Sundays they'd leave by 10 or 11 a.m. and not get home until 4 or 5  p.m. Add in after-school practices plus weight room sessions and there are a lot of hours spent trying to perfect her vaults.

"That's the dedication that she's put into it," Cristie Wood said. "And it's nice to see it's paid off."

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Five other athletes saw their hard word pay off also.

Jayson Williams

Shepherd University, football

Williams said he liked the coaches and the facilities at the NCAA Division II school in Shepherdstown, West Virginia. He made the decision about two months ago, saying he fell in love with the school during a visit.

"It feels close to home, it really does," Williams said. "Nice town, nice campus. It just really felt right."

Williams will probably play offensive guard for Shepherd, but knows, as a freshman, he'll have to earn his time.

"I'm really honored just to be accepted into the school," he said.

Aaron Nice

Bridgewater College, football/track 

Nice's parents both went to Bridgewater, but the Stuarts Draft senior said that wasn't the deciding factor, although he grew up going to games at the NCAA Division III school and was familiar with the campus.

"I really liked the coaches there and they had what I was looking for academically," Nice said. "It's close to home."

Although known as one of the top high school running backs in the Shenandoah Valley, Nice expects to play linebacker in college.

"I really enjoy the preparation part of the defense," Nice said. "Especially practices and watching film."

Allison Quick

Bridgewater College, soccer

Quick began playing soccer when she was 6 and, not long after, had a dream of playing the sport in college. Now she'll get that chance at the NCAA Division III school.

"It's obviously amazing," Quick said. "I just wanted to make my parents proud and I'm glad that I can pursue my college studies as well as what I love."

Quick loved the community at Bridgewater.

"I knew the minute I walked in there," Quick said. "I knew they made me feel like home and treated me like I was already part of the team when I walked in there."

Dawson Jones

Southern Virginia University, baseball

Jones liked the small atmosphere of the NCAA Division III school in Buena Vista.

"I'm fitting right in with everybody," Jones said. "Just everybody seemed really cool there. I knew right when I got there."

After talking with the coach, Jones expects to pitch and play shortstop some as a freshman, but as he gets older he said the plan was to play more shortstop.

"It does't matter," Jones said. "As long as I'm playing ball."

Chase Schages

Randolph College, basketball

Schages didn't make his decision to attend the Division III Lynchburg school until the week of the commitment ceremony. He had several options, but Randolph seemed to be the best fit.

"They seemed like a really close-knit family," Schages said. "They just love to play basketball and that's what I'm here to do."

He said finally making the decision took a lot of stress off of him as he prepares to graduate high school Monday night.

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Patrick Hite is The News Leader's education reporter. Story ideas and tips always welcome. Contact Patrick (he/him/his) at phite@newsleader.com and follow him on Twitter @Patrick_Hite. Subscribe to us at newsleader.com.

This article originally appeared on Staunton News Leader: Six Stuarts Draft High School athletes celebrate college commitments