FLINT -- Most Flint-area high schools are waiting until December or after the New Year to hold signing ceremonies for their athletes heading to college next year.
But a handful took the opportunity Wednesday to recognize their athletes on the first day of the early signing period.
They included Aaliyah McQueen of Carman-Ainsworth, who will play basketball at Illinois; LaNya Bates of Grand Blanc, who will play softball at Memphis; Nick Powers of Flushing, who will play baseball at Michigan State; Elizabeth Norris of Corunna, who will play volleyball at North Dakota; and Andrew Chambal of Davison, who will wrestle at Michigan State.
Bates spent four seasons on the varsity at Grand Blanc and was on the All-State first team as a junior and senior after receiving honorable mention as a sophomore. Last season, she helped the Bobcats win a Division 1 district championship before they were eliminated in the regional opener by Alpena.
Bates carries a 3.0 grade-point average and plans to major in communications at Memphis.
Powers, who throws four pitches, helped Flushing win the Flint Metro League championship with a perfect 15-0 record last season. He was named to the all-league first team. Flushing reached the Division 1 super regional before losing to eventual state runner-up Rockford.
During the regular season, he had a 6-2 record, 0.54 ERA and 81 strikeouts in 52 innings.
Norris was one of 10 finalists for Miss Volleyball after helping the Cavaliers reach the state semifinals last season. This year, she led them to the Metro League’s Stars Division championship with a 9-1 record and was named to the all-league first team.
Norris carries a 4.26 GPA and plans to become an orthopedic surgeon.
Chambal won the 112-pound state championship in Division 1 last season with a 7-1 victory over Nick Alayan of Macomb Dakota. He finished the season with a 35-3 record.
He helped Davison reach the team semifinals before the Cardinals lost 31-24 to Brighton.
MORE:
Allyiah McQueen expects to contribute right away at Illinois
How Beale Street and Memphis BBQ helped recruit LaNya Bates
Brainy Miss Volleyball finalists could join sister as state’s best
Flushing’s Nick Powers commits to Michigan State
Andrew Chambal talks about 2019 quarterfinal win