WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) – It’s National Signing Day, and athletes across central and western Kansas are putting pen to paper, charting the next chapter for their athletic and academic careers.

More than 50 Kansas athletes are signing from nine schools: Bishop Carroll, Derby, Maize, Maize South, Pratt, Wichita Campus, Wichita Heights, Wichita South and Valley Center.

Maize

At Maize High School, six athletes are headed to the next level.

Taylor Dill will play soccer for Friends University.

“It was the first will that had really felt right, and then I went around the campus, and it is so beautiful, the architecture and everything,” she told KSN. “And so I’m just so excited.”

Lexee Shipp will play soccer for Butler Community College.

“I’ve been working so hard to just find the school right for me,” she said. “It’s great. The fact that I get to celebrate that with my classmates, teammates, and coaches, and it’s like a big accomplishment. I’m very proud of myself.”

Skylar Johnson will play volleyball for Southwest Baptist University in Missouri.

“It was actually really simple,” she said. “I went on one visit, and he got back to me about two weeks after my visit, and I just picked him right off the bat.”

Conrad Litton will play football for Tabor College.

“It was definitely the on-campus visit,” he said. “It was meeting with the coaches, and the staff, and the community there. It was perfect. It’s a small college. It’s everything I wanted. I just knew it was great.”

Jayden Ronk will play football for McPherson College.

“This has been a really surreal moment,” he said. “Ever since I was a little kid, I’ve always dreamed of playing at the next level. And I’m just very blessed to be able to make it so I’m able to play at the next level.”

Ty Willits will play football for Emporia State.

Pratt

Over at Pratt High School, star tight end Arley Morrell is officially a Wildcat.

Back in December, Morrell announced that he was joining Kansas State. He originally committed to Colorado State and then Iowa State before deciding to call Manhattan home.

While he did not hold a signing ceremony, Morrell spoke on what it means to be apart:

“Having a guy that used to play there and his connection to the people, the university, it really boosts my confidence within the program,” he told KSN. “So that was kind of my big factor.”

Tune in to KSN News at 6 and 10 for continuing coverage.

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