They excelled at their craft for four years, and now, the hard work pays off.

Five senior athletes signed their letters of intent to continue their sporting ways in college. Those athletes are Mabry Smith for softball at Ouachita Baptist University, Treyaunna Rush for volleyball at Texas A&M University, Chris Lyles and Chris Sutton for baseball at Southern Arkansas University and Coltin Clack for football at Arkansas State University.

“I don’t think you can quantify how much work they put in,” athletic director Gerry Stanford said. “These opportunities are for them by God’s gifts and by their academic prowess, so hats off to them.”

For the athletes, this marks the closing of one chapter and the beginning of another as they look to further their careers in their respective sports. Putting pen to paper signified the achievements and dedication that they have encountered along the way.

“It means everything to me,” Rush said. “When I was growing up, I always wanted to be the girl on TV that another girl wanted to be when she got older, and I feel like when I get there, I will be able to dominate and show everybody that a girl from a small town can make it.”

These players each represented the standard for Tiger athletics and embody what many behind them will try to use as examples for greatness.

“I think it sets the bar for what you have to do academically and the hard work you have to put in athletically to give yourself that chance,” Stanford said. “It always gives people hope to know that this is what I have to do to achieve these dreams.”