McCallie literally had a boatload of college signees Thursday morning — and then some.
Six of the nine members of the crew team’s top varsity eight boat plus another rower were part of a 12-athlete ceremony that also included wrestling state champion Alex Ward, headed to the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, and 2011 Best of Preps soccer player Arturo Rocha, who signed with Lee University.
Ward is a Mormon and strongly considered Boise State and Utah Valley, two programs he knew had worked well with Mormon wrestlers and their two-year mission commitment, among other considerations, but UTC coach Heath Eslinger convinced him the Mocs wanted him and would work with him also.
“He really likes Coach Eslinger and what they’re doing at UTC,” McCallie wrestling coach Mike Newman said, “and he has a big family who live in this area and like to watch him wrestle.”
Rocha lives in Cleveland and has followed Lee’s progress as his hometown school. He also talked to South Florida, Louisville and Kentucky and ultimately picked the Flames over Wake Forest.