One Chapters Ends, Another One Begins - By Macie Milum

One in every thirteen students, a little over 7%. The class of 2024 for the Richland High Bombers is one to remember. Of the 503 students, 16 continue to play, roughly 3.1%. They have stunning athletic competitors ranging from all sports. Over the last four years, more teams made it to state and placed, won district titles, and had undefeated league seasons than many other classes over the years. The 2024 class was athletic, to say the least. However, some will get to continue to play the sport they love across all levels after high school, while some will decide not to, and others will not get the opportunity. Looking at how many athletes there are, even saying they will continue to play after high school, is astonishing. There are athletes from baseball, volleyball, girls and boys soccer, girls basketball, track, golf, and football. With all their hard work paying off, here are the individuals themselves:

Alec Ammerman- Grand Canyon University Baseball

Ammerman started playing baseball when he was three years old. He discovered his love for the sport early on in life and has continued to grow ever since. He loves creating friendships with his teammates, meeting people, and competing against all types of athletes across the country. Ammerman's favorite memory was making it to the state tournament when he was 11 years old with all his buddies who continue to be teammates on his high school team. I asked Ammerman why he chose to go to GCU, and he said, “The coaching staff was a huge part of my decision. Having a great coaching staff that sets the standards for the program and what kinds of recruits and players they bring in. Also, another huge factor of my decision was the Christian foundation that GCU is centered around on the baseball field and the university itself”. He is looking forward to taking the next steps in his baseball career.

Jenna Holm- Northwest Nazarene Volleyball

Holm first picked up a volleyball in her freshman year of high school and has been on the grind ever since. I talked to Holm about her favorite part of volleyball, and she stated, “My favorite thing about volleyball is how it is a full-circle sport. The harder you work to better yourself, in return, betters the team, and applying that to every athlete creates an outstanding team”. She loves accomplishing the little things, such as tournaments and other games, because they have led her to where she is today. I also got to ask why she chose to go to Northwest Nazarene, and Holm said, “I am going to Northwest Nazarene University. I chose to go here because it felt right. When I went on my recruiting trip. I met the coach, girls on the team, and professors, and it was all perfect. I felt like it was where I wanted to be and also the volleyball program is amazing. It is constructive and pushes all the athletes to be better in all aspects. Not just on the court by as a person, student, and more”. She's looking forward to playing with other athletes who are as committed as her and is ready to better herself and her future teammates.

 Bella Bunnage- Eastern Washington University Soccer

Bunnage has been a competitor since she was four years old and fell in love with soccer immediately. She loves playing the sport while creating friendships with her teammates, who become like her family. Her favorite memory during her soccer journey was being the MCC champs four years in a row with her high school team. Bunnage explained why she felt Eastern was the right fit for her and shared, “I chose Eastern Washington because I wanted to go to a school where the coach believes in my capabilities and wants me to get better every day and where I’m constantly being pushed every day to be my absolute best”. She is extremely excited to create new and forever-lasting friendships with her soon-to-be teammates and is ready to be pushed to a higher level and compete every day.

Alyssa Marsh- University of Idaho Track

Marsh started running track in the seventh grade and, from there, has flourished as a runner ever since. She loves how the track is both an individual and team sport and enjoys all the friendships she has made along the way. Her favorite memory in track was going to state her sophomore year and placing third in the 4x4, even though they were seeded to be fifth. Marsh communicated why Idaho was right for her, “I chose the University of Idaho because the coaching staff was really excited and supportive of me through the whole process. Also, I love that the college itself isn’t too big or too small; they have a lot of spirit, and it’s not too far from home”. She is ready to be pushed to her full potential and excited for the future.

Chris Daniels- New Mexico State Baseball

Daniels picked up a baseball when he was three years old and has continued to develop. Daniels talks about why baseball is his favorite sport and fills us in, saying, “My favorite thing about baseball is that it’s super challenging, and you really have to apply your skills every play. Baseball is a sport of failure, and to play, you have to have a strong mindset like none other”. His favorite memory of baseball so far was being selected to play in Area Codes games, which included 250 of the best high school players asked to play in a tournament hosted by the MLB.

Daniels explains why he felt that New Mexico was where he would increase his skills most, sharing: “I choose to commit to New Mexico State because the program has major upsides. With a brand new coaching staff and tons of money going into the program, New Mexico State just felt like the right way to go. When I met with the team, they were a family. The players and the coaches are all really tight with each other and the community as well. Joining C-USA also will be a plus for the program.” He looks forward to the memories that will be made and realizes this is one step closer to his dream of playing professionally.

Dylan Peart- Bushnell University Soccer

Peart started playing soccer at the age of three. He is an extreme competitor and has a huge passion for the sport. He loves the brotherhood that comes with soccer and his team being like a family to him. One of his top memories was winning a state championship with his club team. I got to talk with Peart and ask him his thoughts about Bushnell, “I chose to go play for Bushnell University because of the coach and the players I met there.” He's looking forward to new competition and creating new bonds with his future teammates as he takes on this next chapter in his soccer career.

Macie Milum- Walla Walla Community College

Milum started her basketball career when she was 3 years old and has loved the competitive nature of the sport ever since. Her favorite thing about basketball is its fast pace and competitiveness. She also enjoys being a part of a team and creating relationships with her teammates. Milum's favorite basketball memory is when she was in third grade; her dad was her AAU coach. She won her first-ever championship, where her love for the sport really began. She discussed why Walla Walla was a good fit for her, “I chose to play for WWCC because the coaches were amazing and the team was so welcoming, it just felt like it was going to be a home away from home”. She's excited to continue to play and be with girls with the same passion for the sport and feels this will be a great experience.

Rayce Reeves- Kentucky Christan University Baseball

Reeves first started playing when he was five years old, starting off with a T-ball, but he picked up a baseball at a very young age. Even his first word was “ball”. His favorite aspects of baseball are getting to spend time with his boys and just getting to play the game he loves. While playing baseball, reeves's best memory was winning a championship in Centralia with his tournament team. I got a second to chat with Reeves about Kentucky Christian. He explains, “I chose Kentucky Christian because it was a strong option for me financially, and it is important for me to continue strengthening and building my relationship with Jesus Christ, which I can do easily because it is a Christian school.” He's looking forward to being able to continue to compete and stay on the grind, as Reeves said, “I'm looking forward to see where God takes me.”

Emily Rogers- Yakima Valley Community College Soccer

Rogers first kicked a soccer ball at the early age of four. She immediately had a connection to the sport and continued to advance as she grew up. She enjoys the fast-paced aspects of the game. She mentioned her favorite memory was getting to play in state her junior year of high school and placing third. Rogers provided the following comment on going to YVCC, “I'm going becasuse one of my oldest teammates is also playing there. It's a really good program and growing really fast and I want to be apart of that”. She overall is excited about her upcoming growth as a player and getting to experience playing at the next level. Rogers is a competitor and can't wait to take on this new challenge with her soon-to-be teammates.

Malia Haynes- Linfield University Volleyball

Haynes first started her volleyball career when she was nine years old. She loves being able to travel while she plays the sport she loves. Haynes said her favorite memory was playing beach volleyball in a national tournament with her club team. Haynes enjoys the friendships that come with the sport and the long-lasting bonds that will never break. Haynes loves the campus at Linfield and her new coach and teammates that made it feel like a home away from home. I talked to Haynes about her thoughts on next year and she comments, “I am excited to be able to compete hard and push my body to another level of performance”. Haynes is excited about this next step in her life, and she can't wait to see where it takes her.

Elijah Vickery- Pacific Lutheran University Swim

Vickery first jumped into the pool at the age of seven. He loves the adrenaline rush while in the water and the feeling of winning after all the hard work during the race. His top memory so far was making it to state his junior year with his high school team. Vickery comments on why PLU was for him, “I chose PLU because of the great coaching staff and team that's in place there”. He's looking forward to helping out the PLU team next year and hoping to win some conferences and meets. Vickery is excited for his future and where swim will take him. He is proud of all the hard work that is now paying off.

Davis Sheets- Saint Martins University Golf

Sheets took his first golf swing at age three. He found an immediate connection to the sport. He really thrives off the individuality of the sport and knowing it's all on him to succeed, and when he fails it's up to him to fix it. He mentions his favorite memory being when he got his first hole in one and from there he knew this is the sport he wanted to continue to play and work for everyday. When asked, Sheets replied that, “I chose SMU because it is close to home and my brother goes there as well”. He felt it was a good fit and that staying close to his brother would be fun. Sheets is looking forward to all the traveling he will get to do while playing. He is excited about his future and is proud of all the hours he put into the course to get to play college golf.

Nathan McClelland- College of Idaho Football

McClelland discovered his passion for football in seventh grade. He loves dominating the person in front of him, and the adrenaline rush before the whistle is blown. He also mentioned how he loves cheering and celebrating with his teammates. I got the chance to ask McClelland why College of Idaho and he proclaimed, “I chose The College of Idaho because of how knowledgeable their coaching and training staff is. They also have good school for pre- physical therapy”. He also shared his favorite memory of playing football, when his high school team played two games in one week and beat the number one team in state during his senior year. McClelland is excited to see how he can improve himself and his skills at the next level and play at a speed different from high school football. He is proud that all his time on the field is paying off and can't wait to see where the road of college football leads him.

John Corbin- Saint Martins University Baseball

Corbin started his baseball career with T-ball when he was three. He has continued to grind ever since to reach his dreams of playing college baseball. Corbin states his favorite thing about baseball is, “How rewarding it feels when you succeed because of all the failure necessary to succeed”. Corbin loves creating relationships with his teammates and having a good time with the boys on the field and in the dugout. He knows Saint Martins is right for him because of the community and feels he will be a good fit. He is looking forward to the next competitive level in college and is excited to play for a new coach with new teammates. He is proud that he has reached his goal of college baseball and is ready for this next chapter in his life.

 Baylee Wroble- Washington State University Javelin

Wroble started throwing the javelin in her freshman year of high school and has excelled ever since. She is currently leading the entire state of Washington in the javelin and is ranked in the top 30 for the entire nation. She talked about why she loves javelin so much, and she said how great the track and field community is and how she loves being a part of it. Her favorite memory so far was throwing at the Pasco Invite her junior year where she PR and ended up winning by one inch. I had the chance to talk with Wroble about why she chose WSU, and she stated, “WSU has a great community aspect that reminds me of Richland. They take their sports very seriously, and they treat their athletes with a lot of respect. Everyone is so nice and the team of coaches they have really care about every individual athlete”. Wroble is excited for her future and is ready to improve her throwing numbers as she enters the next level.

Darrah Lerch- Whitman College Swim and Dive

Lerch started swimming competitively in her freshman year of high school and worked extremely hard to be on the varsity team. After her sophomore season, she joined a club team and has been in love with it ever since. I talked to Lerch to understand why she loves swimming so much. Lerch commented, “My favorite thing about swim is the team atmosphere and the friends you make. We spend so much time training in and out of the pool that you make really great friends and have a fun time”. Her favorite memory in her swim career so far was qualifying for state her senior year in an individual event. She shares why Whitman was the place for her, stating, “I chose to go to Whitman College because the team atmosphere is so positive, and I had an immediate connection with the coaches and the athletes.” Lerch is most excited to continue to compete. She is excited to swim with her new teammates and looks forward to the journey ahead.

The Richland High School class of 2024 will be missed by coaches and the countless fans who followed these individuals throughout the past four years. These kids are truly inspiring, proving that hard work pays off. No matter what level or sport, all these athletes have put in the time and effort to get to where they are today. We can't wait to follow them through this next chapter of their athletic careers. We are proud of all the athletes in the class of 2024, but we applaud those who had the courage and the grit to do what they could to ensure they continued after high school. To the 3.1%, to the 16 students, to these amazing athletes, we wish them nothing but the best.