Eight Houston County athletes sign to play at the next level

WARNER ROBINS Ga. — Less than 10% of high school athletes go on to play at the collegiate level. That number can drop even further depending on the sport.

But Monday night, eight Houston County High School students beat the odds and will continue to play in the NCAA.

The group was headlined by now two-time champion Hunter Chiappetta, who will continue his athletic and academic career at Gordon State this fall.

Head baseball coach Matt Hopkins had a lot to say about Chiappetta, who is also coming off of an All-Region First Team selection for second base.

“It’s a labor of love to get to this point. Not everybody gets to play at the next level,” Hopkins said. “It’s definitely something to be applauded and appreciated. We’re very proud of Hunter as he’s committed to Gordon State for a former Bear legend Tanner Hall who is an awesome guy and I can’t wait to see what Hunter does under him.”

Popular personality and pole-vaulting star Brandon Peeples will head to Kennesaw State for track and field.

His coach Don Hudson, also his uncle, praised his work ethic as well as his competitive spirit. Hudson told a story from the past season in which Peeples finally broke the school record for tallest pole vault at 15 feet and six inches. Following his fall on to the mat Peeples looked up, pointed at Hudson and said, “I broke your record!”

Hudson chuckled at the podium as Peeples ducked his head and laughed before he signed his offer.

A pair of volleyball players also signed Monday: De’nyla Harlin and Jessa Dickerson.

Harlin is headed to Edward Waters University thanks to her incredible leaping ability that makes her spikes very difficult to defend against.

Dickerson is the third of three daughters to come through the program under the current head coach, and will play close to home at Middle Georgia State University.

She boasts a staunch backline defense that was critical to the Bears’ success last season.

Whitely Anderson and Stephanie Cohan are the only other pair of athletes that signed Monday, and they’ll both play soccer at Anderson State and Wesleyan College respectively.

Anderson, the team captain, was selected to this year’s All-Region team.

Cohan battled through shoulder injuries the last couple of years but refused to give up and worked through each one of them. Though her head coach, Elvar Gudjonsson, chuckled as he said he banned her from throw ins.

Eason Martin will take his wrestling prowess to Montevallo University.

This past season he was bounced in the second round of the tournament, before he won five straight in the losers bracket to place third overall, all despite weighing in at 182 lbs in the 190lb classification.

Finishing off the Houston County haul was William Zion, who will play golf at ABAC College.

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