On Wednesday, May 2, 13 Green Hope seniors attended signing day. The celebratory event is intended to honor those committed to furthering their athletic talents in college, allowing them the opportunity to celebrate alongside their families, friends and fellow athletes. This year’s seven athletes included various sports commitments, from swimming to golf and volleyball. Read more to learn about these talented athletes and their plans.
Flynn Lewis
Flynn Lewis announced his golf commitment to Lenoir Rhyne University on August 30, 2025. The college competes in the NCAA’s Division II conference and is located in Hickory, North Carolina. While there, Lewis plans to go undecided his first year and explore potential career options. As for his athletic career at Green Hope, Lewis was awarded the player of the year title for the 2025-26 school year, and has been a part of the Falcons’ golf team for all four years of high school. His decision to go to Lenoir Rhyne was influenced by the plethora of advantages the school had to offer him, including an existing friendship with other athletes and the coach. Lewis will begin attending the university in the Fall of 2026.
Jackson Bryce
Jackson Bryce chose to attend East Carolina University for golf, announcing his decision on July 10, 2025. East Carolina University is an NCAA Division I team, competing in the American Athletic Conference. He shared his gratitude for the times and memories he shared with his teammates and coach during high school golf, stating, “I’ll never forget the hilarious bus rides, the support from my teammates and all the good times we’ve shared over the last 4 years.” Bryce is excited to play for ECU and looks forward to the new teammates, coaches and the opportunities to create new memories. “I am incredibly grateful for this opportunity and want to make the most of it for everyone who has helped me get here today,” he explained.
Angelina Lu
Columbia University added Angelina Lu to their Swim and Dive roster on May 16, 2025. An Ivy League school in New York, Columbia University, competes as an NCAA Division I team with highly qualified athletes. Throughout her high school years, Lu competed in the 200 backstroke, 200 freestyle, 100 backstroke and 100 butterfly. She thanked her teammates, family and coaches for assisting in her commitment, and will begin attending Columbia in the fall.
Kelcey Morris
Kelcey Morris announced her commitment to Belmont Abbey College for women’s soccer on September 10, 2025. The college, located in Belmont, NC, is an NCAA Division II team that won its conference championship in 2025. She appreciated the team and community at Belmont, leading to her decision to commit. Morris served as captain of the team for the 2025-26 season, with her leadership skills widely recognized by her coaches and teammates. She will begin her academic and athletic career at Belmont Abbey in the fall, with a supportive family behind her.
Nicholas Shalhoub
On March 24, 2026, Nicholas Shalhoub announced his commitment to William & Mary’s swim and dive team. In Williamsburg, VA, Shalhoub hopes to continue his athletic career at an NCAA Division I school. His passion for the sport was influenced by his experience in high school swimming, which he shared, “High school swimming has been extremely fun. A lot of the swimmers here on the high school team, I also train with every day at my year-round team. I already know a lot of them, but just also getting to meet other people from various swim clubs around the area has been cool.” Shalhoub is set to swim the 200-meter backstroke, the 500-meter freestyle and the 400-meter IM in college, following his start in the fall.
Janice Qiu
Janice Qiu announced her commitment to the U.S. Naval Academy as part of the swim and dive team on Oct 28, 2024. Studying and swimming, but also serving the country, Qiu will join the NCAA Division I school and begin her training in June. “I’m most excited to travel and challenge myself in unique ways in college,” she shared. Qiu has participated in Green Hope swimming for all four years of high school, providing her with many memories. “My favorite part of swimming at Green Hope was the people I swam with,” she shared. Qiu is a 3x USA swimming scholastic all-American in the women’s 100-yard breaststroke. She plans to pursue an engineering-related degree, but is currently undecided.
Jackson Wall
Holy Family University added Jackson Wall to their baseball lineup on Nov 26, 2025, where he will play for the NCAA Division II team in Philadelphia. While Wall was injured for most of his senior year, he is sure to make a quick recovery and be able to play for the team in years to come.
Yamin Jothi
Yamin Jothi announced his commitment to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology for football. He will play at an NCAA Division III school next year. In just one season playing varsity football with the Falcons, Jothi tallied 16 total tackles in only ten games played. He is sure to make an impact for the Beavers.
Taylor Bruce
On June 15, 2024, Taylor Bruce announced her commitment to the University of Georgia for volleyball. She will join the roster of the NCAA Division I team, playing in the Southeastern Conference. Green Hope’s leading kill leader committed to the team early on in her high school career, citing the coaches at Georgia being the main reason behind her commitment: “I love them all so much. They really work on trying to elevate their program under a new coaching staff. I also just love the school in itself.”
Landon Cowen
Landon Cowen announced that he will play lacrosse at Wingate University on April 22, 2026. He will join the Bulldogs on their NCAA Division II team. Tallying 140 goals and 59 assists across his three-year varsity career with the Falcons, Cowen was a focal point in the team’s attack. Cowen remembers his time with the team fondly, saying, “My best memory with the team was beating Leesville Road my sophomore year. It was our biggest win so far… it was an exciting back-and-forth game, and it will always be a memory.” Like many other collegiate athletes, Cowen also decided on Wingate thanks to a successful visit with coaches: “The community was super nice, and the coach was extremely welcoming. The positive culture throughout ultimately swayed me into deciding.”
Brianna Stewart
This fall, Brianna Stewart will play Division III tennis for the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, Virginia. From winning a state championship in her freshman year to captaining the girls’ tennis team her senior year, Stewart is excited to continue her athletic career. In an interview with the GH Falcon, Stewart said, “I think the Green Hope team was big for helping me realize I wanted to be on a team in college,” thanking her teammates for their continuous support.
Blake Vestal
Carson-Newman University added Blake Vestal to their roster, with him announcing his commitment on Aug 19, 2025. He will play baseball in Tennessee for the NCAA Division II team. In his senior year, Vestal had an ERA of 2.45 in 45 innings pitched, tallying up 57 strikeouts. As a lefty pitcher, he will be a valuable addition to Carson-Newman’s pitching line-up.
Kaushal Karupakula
Kaushal Karupakula announced his commitment to Barton College for golf on Oct 2, 2025. He will play for the NCAA Division II in Barton, NC. He was a strong addition to the Green Hope golf team and will continue to serve as a key player next year at Barton.
Rachael Baldyga
Rachael Baldyga committed to Christopher Newport University on Oct 14, 2025, joining the NCAA Division III team to play softball next year. Undoubtedly the most prolific hitter in Green Hope history, Baldyga holds the career records in home runs, hits, batting average, RBIs and slugging. Averaging .686 her senior year, and .573 across her four-year career, with 20 total home runs, Baldyga’s impact at the plate was powerful throughout her time with the Falcons. Regarding her time with the Falcons, Baldyga said, “Green Hope softball has taught me how to be a leader and an inspiration to those around me. It created an atmosphere that allowed me to have pride while I represented my school.” Leaving quite the legacy at Green Hope, the Falcons wish her the best in her time with the Captains in the years to come.
Over years of practice and games, these seniors have built up their prowess in different sports, and now have been given the opportunity to take their skills to the next level. Playing at various schools across the country and at different divisions, Green Hope’s seniors will continue to strive for success.
