Pine Creek seniors Isla Eaton, Olivia Jackson and Brenna Hallam all played on the varsity soccer team as freshmen, and four years later, signed to play Division I soccer. 

As part of the school’s National Signing Day ceremony Wednesday, Eaton signed to Ohio State, Hallam to Oklahoma, and Jackson to the Air Force Academy. 

The best friends were just three of 10 signees across seven sports to sign in the Pine Creek gym, and three of six to sign at Division I. 

“It shows the strength of Pine Creek and how much our staff does for us,” Hallam said of the number of signees, particularly at the D-I level. “It shows the culture of Pine Creek and the push to do hard things.”

Besides soccer, other Division I signees are Morgan Holloman for volleyball at Texas Christian; Colby King for lacrosse at LeMoyne College (N.Y.), and Lily Kemmerer for swimming at the UNLV. 

King was the first lacrosse player at Pine Creek to sign to play Division I lacrosse, an honor he doesn’t take lightly.

“It means a lot to have all your hard work pay off,” King said. “I didn’t look at division, I just wanted the best fit for me. (Assistant coach Clarence) Thomas helped me get to the point where I am.”

Other signees at Pine Creek on Wednesday are Makenzie Eberly for softball at Truett-McConnell; Gavin Weichelt for wrestling at Doane; Morgan Sterk for basketball at Northwestern College; and Alexis Anderson for volleyball at Trinidad State.

It was an emotional ceremony for coaches who spoke of their respective athletes, one of whom was also their child. Head softball coach Travis Eberly, spoke of his daughter, Makenzie, in a moving speech highlighting her hard work and sacrifice.  

It was also emotional for parents in the audience, including Eaton’s parents, Brian and Lori. After a rocky high school soccer career that included three surgeries and two ACL tears, causing Eaton to miss her sophomore season, they couldn’t be more proud to see their daughter overcome adversity to live out her dreams. 

“Isla‘s been through everything; she’s unbelievable,” Lori Eaton, an Ohio State synchronized swimming alumna, said. “I never doubted she would get to play at that level. I’ve been a coach and you don’t see athletes like her that are so relentless, committed … nothing stops her. We are beyond proud. She just deserves it.”

Also in attendance Wednesday was Eaton’s physical therapist, Hannah Allgood, with whom she spent countless hours during her two ACL recoveries, each of which lasted a year. 

“She’s one of my biggest supporters,” Eaton said. 

Eaton will be enrolling at Ohio State early in January, a decision she says was 100% hers and allows her to acclimate to college life before the fall season. While her injuries set the second-team all-stater’s recruiting process back from what is typical for soccer, a breakthrough junior year and club season with Real Colorado helped her make an impression on the Buckeyes. 

Eaton is happy to end her high school career not only alongside her friends, but also her Pine Creek classmates with whom she shares a unique bond from the years of commitment each has put into their respective sports.   

“Today is a symbol of all the hard work we’ve accomplished over the years,” Eaton said. “It’s a big day for a lot of these athletes to mark their journey and make things official. We are in this together, and it’s really exciting knowing we are going to the next level together.”