Winter Sports Signing

A college signing event that changes students’ lives

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Photo by E. Hammett

The five Viking athletes at the Winter Signing Day.

Andy Ratterree, Viking Voices Co-Editor

Every winter at Spartanburg High School, seniors sign sports contracts to colleges where they commit to continue playing their desired sport. This year SHS had five senior athletes sign to various colleges around the country. The seniors signed a National Letter of Intent to continue their education and sports careers at these colleges. These colleges included The Citadel, Samford University, North Greenville University, Lenoir Rhyne and Colgate University.

Garrett Fulmer (12) has been in the SHS baseball program for six years and has been on varsity since his ninth grade year. Ranked second in the state for catching and seventh in the state overall, Fulmer has a well-known reputation as being a remarkable player on the baseball diamond. His astounding statistics have earned him All State and All Region Honors. He is enrolling at The Citadel during the 2023-2024 first semester.

“The winter signing event was one to remember for sure. I am eager to get out on the baseball diamond this coming spring and compete one last time as a Viking for my senior year,” Fulmer said.

Anna Buchert (12) has been an active swimmer for most of her life and has been on the SHS swim team for six years. Lettering six out of six years at SHS Buchert has earned many achievements throughout her time. Four state championship titles, All State Honors and All Region Honors for four years, Region 2-5A Female Swimmer of the Year for 2022, and Team Captain of the SHS swim team are only a couple of awards that she has earned. Buchert plans to continue her swimming career at Lenoir Rhyne University in Hickory, North Carolina.

“Signing day was very special to me. I felt extremely lucky to have my friends and family there supporting me. I have been swimming my entire life so it was very rewarding for me to have my hard work and dedication recognized. I am really looking forward to the new team atmosphere and relationships that collegiate swimming will bring,” Buchert said.

Martha Bishop (12) has been playing soccer at SHS since seventh grade and has been on the varsity soccer team for the past three years. During her career playing soccer at SHS, Bishop has scored 53 goals total over the past three seasons. Bishop also broke the SHS record for most soccer goals scored in a season by scoring an astounding 32 goals during her junior season. Additionally, away from SHS, she is the team captain for CESA ENCL, which is the highest club level in the country. Bishop is enrolling at Samford University this January to carry on her soccer career.

“I am graduating this January and am going to go ahead and go to Samford to train with the team and take classes in the spring. I’ve played soccer my whole life and it has been the thing I’ve enjoyed most. My goal for next year is to start as a freshman,” Bishop said.

Joe Cash (12) is also a student athlete who signed this year. Cash has been playing baseball at SHS for six years and will be a three-time varsity letter winner this year. Cash has been awarded with the honor of Region 2-5A All Region, his two-time selection to the Diamond Prospects Palmetto Games, selected to play in the prestigious South Atlantic Border Battle this year and named Preseason Perfect Game Honorable Mention All-American in 2022. Signing to North Greenville University, Cash will join as a member of the Crusaders baseball team, where he will play along his older brother Jax.

“Signing Day is one of my greatest accomplishments and a huge weight off of my back. It’s nice to see all of the hard work come to fruition,” Cash

Jerome Falcon (12) was another senior that signed this winter. Falcon has been playing SHS tennis since his seventh-grade year and has lettered on varsity every single year. During his SHS tennis career, Falcon won two state championships in 2017 and 2018, as well as making All Region Honors four times. He also finished third overall in the 4A-5A State Singles Tournament this past year. Falcon is signing with Colgate University, where he plans to continue his tennis career.

“The winter signing event was exciting because all my hard work proved to pay off. I’m excited for next year to be part of a team and take tennis to the next level,” Falcon said.