(From left) Dragon student-athletes Sophia Shonts, Quinn McElroy and Nina Horning all signed their letters of intent to play college sports. Photo by Megan Kelley

By Megan Kelley
Staff Writer
ORION TWP. — Lake Orion High School held their first of three athlete signing days last Wednesday with three student-athletes signing letters of intent to play their respective sports at various colleges.

“(This) is always a very special day. This is the first of three singing dates that we have here at Lake Orion High School and we’ve got a great group to kick us off,” said LOHS Athletic Director Chris Bell. “Every year at Lake Orion we usually have between 20 to 30 student-athletes who will sign to play collegiately at multiple levels and it’s been a big deal for a long time. We like to celebrate it because there’s a lot that goes into it, not just with the student-athletes but also with moms and dads and grandmas and grandpas.”

Signing their letters were Quinn McElroy, Nina Horning and Sophia Shonts.

Shonts, who signed to play ice hockey at Adrian College, was introduced by head coach of the varsity girls lacrosse team Meghan Allcorn.

Shonts has played ice hockey for seven years, has been a state runner up for three years and won the first annual women’s National Silver Stick Tournament. She plans to major in Exercise Science with a minor in Leadership.

McElroy, signing to play lacrosse at Grand Valley State University, was also introduced by Allcorn.
McElroy is a four year varsity girls lacrosse player but has been a multi-sport athlete her entire life. Last year, she was named second team all-state by the Michigan Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association. She was also named OAA All-League the past two years and was the team MVP her sophomore year.

Last up was Horning, who signed to play volleyball at Cincinnati University, and was introduced by varsity volleyball head coach Tony Scavarda.

Horning is a four-year varsity volleyball player and has led the team in kills all four years. This year, she was a finalist for Miss Volleyball Michigan, where she finished fourth and was named an ADCA All-American. Horning was a vital part of several state final runs and a good amount of district and regional final victories.

Bell reminded the athletes of the opportunities ahead of them and reiterated that even after they leave Lake Orion, they will always have support back home.

“To our student-athletes, as you guys know, this is a great opportunity. I was thinking about all of you this morning and having my own kids go through the same experience and seeing players that we’ve coached go through this experience, the opportunities that you’re going to have because you’re committing to being a student-athlete are tremendous,” Bell said “The places you’re going to go, the people you’re going to meet, the connection’s you’re going to have, the friends you’re going to make, the memories you’re going to make are priceless and you’ve earned this opportunity.”