The slow marching taps of drums ushered in a celebration of the newest collegiate student-athletes from South Kitsap High School, a class highlighted by state champions and record-breakers.

20 students – two more were listed but absent – made their ceremonial commitments before a small crowd of friends, family and coaches May 30 in the high school gym. Cheerleaders and band members gave the students a final fight song sendoff as they sat down to take on their new schools’ colors.

SK’s soccer and track programs once again made up many of the night’s commits, most choosing small or local colleges to further their academic and athletics lives.

Among the great many were the elite few. Two-time state champion Grace Degarimore will follow in the footsteps of elite Wolves alumni Ella Hopper, taking her talents in track and field to NCAA Division 1 Utah Valley University.

Coach Ed Santos described Degarimore, who holds commanding school records in the discus and shot put, as a generational talent, saying, “Our throw coaches create a culture that’s unbelievable. She’s been in the weight room more, gotten bigger and stronger. I wouldn’t be surprised if at some point, we’re watching her in the Olympic trials.”

Kamdyn Hagerty was another rare talent in SK softball, coach Bobby Lawerence letting the stats speak for themselves. A .433 career batting average, over 100 hits, 21 home runs and 81 runs batted in give her the status of one of the school’s most dominant forces on offense. Her pitching was extra special—Hagerty finishing her high school career with 413 strikeouts and around 5,000 pitches thrown.

Lawrence said, “She carries herself with class both on and off the field. She came to me as a young athlete and is leaving as an outspoken leader.” Hagerty will join an NCAA Division 2 softball powerhouse at Colorado Mesa University.

Nine SK athletic programs were represented in all, but a 10th inclusion on the festivities put the spotlight on Siara Mosby. Her commitment was to the University of Minnesota Crookston, where she will join the school’s equestrian program after co-oping with the equestrian team at Port Angeles High School.

“Our team being a co-op, I get to work with everybody from around Kitsap County, and I made so many friends that I never would have,” Mosby said. “I’ve also traveled a lot because of this sport, and I have been so thankful.”

Other commits include:

Cheer

Sterling Mydske – Missouri Valley College

Softball

Shelby Avery – Olympic College

Baseball

Luke Fenton – Everett Community College

Hunter Smith – Centralia Community College

Volleyball

Faith White – Olympic College

Frances Cronk – Olympic College

Soccer

Hailey Deese – Northwest University

May O’Shaughnessy – Tacoma Community College

Melanie Rojas Perez – Tacoma Community College

Grace Widergren – Peninsula College

Brandon Durr – Saint Martin’s University

Landon Kirby – Skagit Valley College

Football

Jayce Alleyne – Whitworth University

John Gosser – University of Puget Sound

Track and Field

Jordan Lee – Olympic College

Octavian Clark – Olympic College

Sypress Apua’Au – Olympic College

Golf

Alex Moore – Multnomah University

Dance

Isabella Page – Central Washington University