On November 8, a whopping 17 Newsome students signed contracts to officially commit to a collegiate sports team, which was the largest amount in school history. Students signed for a multitude of sports, but the sports with the most students moving to the collegiate levels were lacrosse, softball, and baseball. 

   At the ceremony, newly crowned athletic director Aaron Haygood kicked things off with a speech about how proud the school was of all these student athletes being able to take their careers to the next level. From there, all of the athletes got a chance with the microphone, with most of them thanking their friends, family, and coaches. It was clear to see that everyone who spoke was incredibly grateful to be able to extend their career and compete at the next level. 

   The overall vibe of the ceremony ended up being incredibly relaxed and friendly, which boosted the reactions of many that attended. Allowing the athletes to invite not only their families, but also their close friends, led to the ambiance in the gym being very inviting and fun. Junior Cordell Smith, who was simply in attendance, said, “I really had a great time talking to everyone at the signing day, it was a lot of fun to meet all the athletes.” Furthermore, all of the athlete’s tables having food seemed to be a big plus to many in attendance, with senior Beck Waldman stating it was his, “…second favorite part of the whole affair besides seeing all the amazing athletes.”

   There is no question this event was heavily bolstered by the hard work of the Student Government Association (SGA) to make the event as enjoyable as possible. Personalized banners for each athlete hung above their decorated tables, announcing the school and sport they played. Furthermore, the official Newsome backdrop provided a fantastic photo opportunity for those signing to get more formal pictures with their friends and family. Lacrosse athlete Jasmine “Mimi” Walters, who was signing to play Division 1 Lacrosse at George Washington University, stated, “I’m so grateful for all the hard work SGA put into this event to make it the best it could possibly be.”

   All in all, it is safe to say the first singing day of the year was a resounding success all around. Many members of the student body are already looking forward to the signing day held for winter and fall sports that will commence later in the year.