Valley tally
- Updated: November 19, 2024
For the second year in a row, Alexandria athletes cover the Larry R. Ginn Gymnasium floor with mass signing ceremony. (Includes photo gallery, video)
By Joe Medley
East Alabama Sports Today
ALEXANDRIA — Another year, another mass signing ceremony for Alexandria.
Division I signees Bray Goode and Eryn Spradley led a group of eight signees Tuesday, including four volleyball players.
The group includes volleyball’s McKinley Cooper (Southern Union Community College), cross country’s Caleb Gay (Gadsden State Community College), baseball’s Goode (University of South Alabama), volleyball’s Cassidy Hartsfield (Gadsden State), softball’s Alyssa Hunt (Wallace State Community College), volleyball’s Kaden Pritchett (Gadsden State), softball’s Pressley Slaton (Gadsden State) and volleyball’s Spradley (Tennessee Tech University).
Undecided football kicker Cleat Forrest is expected to sign in the near future.
This comes a year after nine Alexandria athletes gathered on the floor of Larry R. Ginn Gymnasium for a similar ceremony.
“It’s just amazing,” said Alexandria volleyball coach Whitney Welch, an Alexandria graduate and the coach with the most athletes in this year’s signing class. “It speaks to, hopefully, our tradition is continuing.
“We’ve always had a good one, but I’m just thankful that we have kids who are hard working, want to be good people first but then are allowing those good attributes have a positive impact on their own lives.”:
The group included compelling personal stories.
Goode helped Alexandria’s baseball team win its first-ever state title last spring, most notably with his Game 3 victory on the mound in the quarterfinal series at Sardis. Goode bagged arguably the biggest victory of a career that saw him fight through tendinitis in his left (pitching) arm related to a major growth spurt.
It took him a year and a half to be able to pitch without elbow pain. Once healthy, he showed his talent and earned a Division I opportunity.
“It’s an amazing reward,” Goode said. “God, Jesus Christ, my Lord and savior, He brought me through so much. He gave me the ability to play this amazing sport.
“I’m so thankful for it, the people that I’ve met and just the ability to come out of struggle and learn how to get out of struggle.”
Spradley, the younger sister of former Alexandria standout Taylor Spradley, showed her worth in the family business of hitting. Her 725 kills as a senior lifted her career total to 1,723.
The second Spradley to finish as All-Calhoun County Class 4A-6A player of the year also had 195 digs, 55 blocks and 75 aces to lead Alexandria to a 4A state runner-up finish.
Being part of another big signing class at Alexandria “just goes to show how well our coaches coach us, how encouraging they are,” Eryn Spradley said. “It’s just a great place to be, athletic wise.
“We’re known for athletics, and this obviously shows that we’re known for athletics.”
Photo gallery by Joe Medley
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