Signing Day: Fayetteville athletes sign letters

Four Division I girls basketball players, 13 total sign during ceremony

Fayetteville senior Grayce Spangler smiles during a signing ceremony Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2016, in Fayetteville.

FAYETTEVILLE -- Almost an entire starting lineup of Fayetteville girls' basketball Division I signees rolled out for National Signing Day on Wednesday.

Four seniors on the current Lady Bulldogs' roster signed National Letters of Intent, all with Division I programs. Grayce Spangler, a 5-foot-10 guard, signed with Arkansas, Lauren Holmes, a 5-8 guard, signed with North Texas, Maya Mayberry, a 5-7 point guard, signed with Oral Roberts, and Kylee Coulter, a 5-8 guard, signed with Nebraska-Omaha.

"Having four athletes sign is tremendous," Fayetteville girls basketball coach Vic Rimmer said. "All four of these young ladies are quality people and they represent everything you like about Fayetteville High School.

"They are consistent in the classroom and they're great teammates and great friends. And all four of these ladies are going to be great contributors where they go. They're not just going to sit on the bench. They're all going to be big contributors."

Spangler committed to Arkansas in June while attending a Razorbacks' team camp. Both of her parents attended Arkansas and she said following in their footsteps to play for the Razorbacks was a lifelong dream.

Holmes recently won her third state championship at Fayetteville in volleyball, having already won Class 7A titles in basketball and outdoor track. She viewed her signing along with Spangler, Coutler and Mayberry as a sign of good things to come for the Lady Bulldogs this season.

"This is pretty great," Holmes said. "I'm excited for our season and to see what comes."

Girls basketball might have been able to field almost a starting five, but the school altogether put out an entire team worth of signees on a milestone day at Bulldog Arena.

In volleyball, Faith Waitsman capped her Fayetteville career with back-to-back Class 7A state titles. She signed with Wyoming.

"Sophomore year if anyone would have told me that I was going to play in college I wouldn't have believed them," said Waitsman, a 6-foot outside hitter who finished with 343 kills and 91 blocks this season. "My teammates and my coaches and parents have gotten me so far and I wouldn't have been able to do it without all of them."

Kyle Robinson, another recent state champion for Fayetteville in boys golf, also signed with Arkansas on Wednesday. Robinson was all-state and all-conference this season and helped guide Fayetteville to a fourth straight Class 7A championship.

"Kyle is a great player, but he's an even better person," Fayetteville golf coach Scott Williams said. "He's forever left his mark on our program and he'll always be a Purple'Dog."

Along with Robinson, Palmer Hays -- a letterman for Fayetteville through 2015 -- signed in golf with Wichita State.

In boys basketball, Tyler Roth signed with Harding. Roth played valuable minutes off the bench for the Purple'Dogs as a junior as is expected to be the team leader this season.

"I've been in coaching 35 years and I've never ad anyone work harder than Tyler," Fayetteville boys basketball coach Kyle Adams said.

In boys tennis, Hans Corbell, the top singles player in the 7A-West Conference regular season and a former state runner-up in doubles play, signed with Ouachita Baptist.

Brooke Schultz, the state diving record holder, signed Wednesday from Fayetteville with Arkansas.

In baseball, Hayes Cox signed with Arkansas Tech and Garrett Williams signed with the University of the Ozarks.

Maggie Mabry, a top player for the Lady Bulldogs the last two seasons, signed in softball with Drury University.

Sports on 11/10/2016