Friends, families, peers, present and past coaches crowd into the building to celebrate. Eleven tables, one for each senior signing, are covered in different college memorabilia and pictures of the student. There are lines just to say hello and congratulate them, and there is anticipation and excitement in the air.

Eleven seniors used their first-class periods to sign contracts committing to colleges offering them a place in their program In the IMPAC Feb. 2.

“I want to thank, along with the signees, everybody for being here,” campus athletic coordinator and head football coach Marcus Gold said. “This is a great showing, family, friends, teammates, and administration are here to celebrate our 11 signees from all different sports.

Along with the student, their family was called up by their coaches to be with them and watch as they signed and hear a bit about the accomplishments of the students. The 11 seniors signing were Maddox Fraley, Chase Cambell, Marcus Harbert, Joshua Hollingsworth, Tyler Jackson, Caden Roeschen, Gracie Tower, Triniti McBride, Miranda Howard, Anjelika Abraham and Zoe Harbison.

“My dream is to make it to the league,” Harbert said, “so being able to sign at a Division 1 institution is just the biggest next step forward to make it towards my dream. It’s the best feeling in the world right now. I am just happy to be here.”

The students represented sports like football, dance, volleyball, track and field, cross country and tennis. For example, Triniti McBride is going to play tennis for Hardin-Simmons University,

“The signing was a huge step for me because this is the beginning of a new chapter in my life,” McBride said. “I am super excited to continue playing tennis and my education. It meant a lot to have all of my peers, coaches, and family there to support me.”

The day was not only special for the students, but for everyone there supporting them.

“[Triniti] had a goal when she was growing up and that was to play college tennis,” tennis coach Adriel Gonzalez said. “She has dedicated herself to accomplishing this goal. In addition to our practices and competitions, she goes out and plays tournaments, takes lessons [during school] breaks, and does tennis camps. She has really dedicated herself to the sport and it is nice to see her accomplishing this goal.”

Fraley signed to Cobbler Stockton University for football, Cambell to Trinity University for football, Harbert to Lamar University for football, Hollingsworth to Southeastern Oklahoma State University for football, Jackson to West Texas A&M University football, Roeschen to Texas Wesleyan University for football, Tower to Dallas Baptist University for dance, Howard to Bradford University for volleyball, Abraham to North Central Texas College for track and cross country, and Harbison to LeTourneau University for soccer.

“What a great day to celebrate all of our athletes. We are unbelievably proud of all of you and your hard work,” Gold said. “Your dedication, and the work you put into your craft. Your craft of one, being a student, and two, being an athlete. This is a day you have been waiting for for a really long time.”

Howard received an academic all-district all four years and the academic all-state team this year.

“I can remember going to McMillian when [Miranda] was in eighth grade and I went away saying wow, this kid is going to be a great addition to our program, and I was completely right,” volleyball coach Lisa Curry said. “Miranda has proven to be a leader on and off the court, and it has been an honor to coach her throughout her high school career. She has definitely left her legacy here at Wylie east.”

Towers helped lead her team to become state finalists at the UIL Spirit Championship where they placed 10th out of 68 teams.

“[Gracie] has excelled as a cheerleader and a student,” cheer sponsor Amy Tietjen said. “She also helped us reach NCA nationals this year where we placed 11th in the large gameday division.

Abraham currently has the second-fastest time in cross country in school history with a time of 19:24, the fourth-fastest mile in 5:29, and the second-fastest time in the 2-mile for the track with a flat 12:00.

“[Anjelika] has been a huge part of the cross country and track programs all four years,” head cross country coach and assistant track & field coach Justin Eddy said. “She has proven herself to be one of the best distance runners to come through our school history. She’s smart, she works hard, and she is gonna do great things”

After the ceremony, there was more time to get pictures and congratulate all of the athletes at their tables.

“I would just like to say that it is such a special experience, not only for the students that are signing and their families and their coaches but also the students that are here, principal Tiffany Doolan said. “The younger athletes looking to these seniors thinking I want to have that same experience. So it was a great experience for not only the kids that are signing but also for the entire raider nation community.”