Medical Lake High School showcased one of its largest groups of letter-of-intent signees in recent memory as seven seniors officially announced May 18 where they would attend college this fall.
Seven Cardinals, including members of ML’s cross country, baseball, cheer and competitive shooting signed letters in front of school officials, coaches and parents in the high school auditorium.
Included were Kaleb Cain, Luke Dickey, both from baseball; cross country’s Jenna Castro, Reid Headrick and Kayla Ramsey; Meghan Mix from cheerleading and Nikki Dafler in rifle.
Athletic director, Dawn Eliason, introduced the group and noted their school of choice as well as providing comments from the athletes and their coaches.
“In an effort to get ideas rolling, I searched for quotes about athletic success,” Eliassen said in addressing the room.
Among those were words from Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson who said, “Be humble. Be hungry. And always be the hardest worker in the room.”
Or from soccer legend, Pele, “Success is no accident. It is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice, and most of all, love of what you are doing.”
“So, whether it came naturally or if a parent or coach here today helped you learn to work hard, to believe in yourself, and to persevere in the sport you love — well done,” Eliassen said. “It has all paid off. You have each earned the right to show us your dreams next year.”
Dafler earned eight varsity letters in cheerleading at MLHS and served as captain or co-captain for three years. She has earned numerous team awards including Most Spirited, MVP and the Coach’s Award.
This fall Dafler will attend the University of Arizona where she will move from sideline cheering to traveling the country on their competitive cheer team. Nikki says
“I am so thankful for the many coaches who have supported me throughout my high school cheerleading career,” she said.
Mix has been competing in Olympic style rifle shooting for the last two and half years and will attend The Citadel in Charlestown, South Carolina.
She frequently placed in the top three at local competitions and earned 10th place at the state competition as a junior and a senior.
Along with coaches, Mix thanks her parents “Who have put a lot of time, energy, extremely early mornings, countless driving hours, and money into this sport to help me thrive and be the best athlete I can be.”
Cain will attend Hesston College in Kansas this fall. Head baseball coach Austin Sharp “Credits Cain’s continued work in the weight room, and on and off the field, despite battling injuries, as a primary factor in earning the right to continue his baseball career.”
Dickey’s improvement and landing on college radar at Wenatchee Valley JC has been steady. As a junior he earned second team All-Northeast A accolades, and this year was a first-team selection.
“I would like to thank my family for giving me the opportunity to play in some crazy wacky tournaments and games,” Dickey said.
Over the past four years, Jenna Castro has accumulated nine varsity letters, eight of those in cross country and track. She will attend Carroll College in Helena, Montana.
“I’ll forever love this program and look back at my high school athletic experience fondly,” Castro said.
Ramsey’s middle name in her Medical Lake career might have changed to “record” as she has amassed school marks that stood for decades in the mile, 1,600 and 3,200 meters as well as the Distance Medley Relay. That earned her an athletic scholarship to Western Washington University
Ramsey’s message is “Although I only started running my sophomore year of high school, it is one of the best decisions I have made.”
While Reid Headrick earned varsity letters at Medical Lake in track, basketball and soccer, it was cross country where he excelled. He will take that talent to the University of San Francisco.
In 2019 he was a member of the second-place team at state and was team captain in the 2021 he was named team captain where the Cardinals finished third at state.
As a senior in 2022, Headrick earned the title of NEA League MVP and was the individual 1A state champ.
“I would like to thank my family and friends for always supporting me and giving me a chance to run at the D1 level,” Headrick said.
Paul Delaney is a retired Free Press Publishing reporter and can be reached at [email protected].
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