8 Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy athletes sign their NLI
CINCINNATI, Ohio —聽Eight Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy seniors participated in National Signing Day in February, signing letters of intent to commit to playing at the next level next year.
Caden Crawford of Liberty Township signed with University of Evansville to play baseball. Crawford was named 2019 All-Miami Valley Conference Honorable Mention, 2021 All-MVC second-team, a member of the 2021 Prep Baseball Report All-Ohio team, and a 2021 state champion.
Will Murphy of Morrow signed with DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana, to play baseball. Murphy was named 2021 All-MVC Honorable Mention, a member of the 2021 PBR All-Ohio team, and a 2021 state champion.
Cooper Robinson of Turtlecreek Township signed with Butler University to play baseball. Robinson was named 2021 All-MVC second-team, a member of the PBR All-Ohio team, and a 2021 state champion.
Griffin Max of Loveland signed with Trine University in Angola, Indiana, to play soccer. Max was named All-MVC second team and was the recipient of the first Chuck Ausman Character and Service Award, which is based on exemplary character. In addition, he volunteered as the CHCA Junior High assistant soccer coach.
Finley Payne of Mason signed with Harvard to play softball. Payne was named MVC Player of the Year twice, held the highest batting average in the state in 2021, and has been in the top three in batting average in prior years. She is a perennial Xtra Innings top ranked player in the country and played on the Beverly Bandits, a perennial women鈥檚 softball powerhouse. Payne had 12 home runs in 2021, hit above .750, and had more than 200 strikeouts on the mound as a pitcher.
Jessey Li of Mason signed with Yale University for swimming. Li is the top ranked breaststroke swimmer in the state, and the fourth-ranked recruit in the state overall. She swam at the Olympic Trials in the breaststroke. Li also placed third at the Speedo Winter Junior Championships in the 100 breaststroke. She聽 holds nine school records and several league records. Li is the reigning district champion in both the 50 freestyle and 100 breaststroke and holds the district record in the breaststroke.
Mary Jones of Mason signed with Palm Beach Atlantic University in West Palm Beach, Florida, to play volleyball. Jones was a member of the state semifinal team for two years, received All-District and All-MVC honors for four years and All-Academic for four years. She was also selected by the CHCA athletic department to represent the school in a Desire to Lead program.
Ava Kraft of Mason signed with Taylor University in Upland, Indiana, to play volleyball. Kraft was a member of the state semifinal team for three years, named MVC All-Academic for four years, and received MVC honors two years.
“Choosing a college is a huge decision for an individual and family,鈥� CHCA Executive Director of Athletics Bryan Fetzer said. 鈥淭o have the chance to compete at the collegiate level as an athlete is a massive accomplishment. Only a very select few are presented with that opportunity. I don’t think most people understand that fully. Having personally been in the college athletics world for 25 years, it speaks volumes of Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy to have eight compete at the next level. There is no doubt that these eight young men and women will impact the new communities in a positive way, just as they did at CHCA. We wish them the very best in the next steps of their life’s journey.”
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