This is the third of three stories examining EHS athletes moving on to college sports.

Whether they started playing as toddlers or high schoolers, four spring sports athletes are looking forward to fulfilling their dreams of playing college sports next year. 

One baseball player and one softball player are ready to continue their careers in college after playing for more than half of their lives. A girls soccer player is ready to take her midfield prowess to the next level. A track and field thrower is ready to adapt to college sports and contribute to a successful team.

Lilly Rife, Softball, Central Methodist University 

Lilly Rife’s recruiting process was more stressful than she had hoped.

She didn’t receive an offer until this October when many of her peers had already signed. Lucky for her, that team checked all of the boxes.

The senior catcher and infielder will play at Central Methodist University next year. When she took a visit, she was surprised by how welcoming and encouraging the coaches and team were.

“As soon as they saw me walk in, the coach literally paused their practice and invited me out to the field to practice with them,” she said. “And all the girls came by and wanted to say hi and introduce themselves.”

Rife got her start in T-ball and began playing competitive softball at age 8. She quickly set her goals high.

“I really knew that I wanted to play in college because I saw these older girls play on the College World Series,” Rife said. “And I thought, ‘I want to do that.’”

But that road wasn’t always smooth sailing. An injury last summer derailed some of Rife’s plans. When she finally found out her dream of playing at the next level was coming true, she was overcome with joy.

“It was definitely a very emotional phone call whenever the coach called me and said, ‘Hey, I want you on my team,’” Rife said. “Because I was for sure that I never would get recruited. That was always in the back of my mind.”

After the turbulence of her recruiting, Rife is ready to make her college softball dream a reality and make Central Methodist her home.

“I’m just excited to be on the college field and be able to say ‘this is my field,’” Rife said. “Because there was a point where I couldn’t walk, I couldn’t be on the field.”

Kelton Ford, Baseball, Highland Community College

When Kelton Ford visited Highland Community College, he connected with the staff and saw a future where he could grow as a player and a person.

The coaches and players welcomed him and helped him realize what his future could look like.

“I really connected well with the staff,” Ford said. “They seem very welcoming. And I felt that it was a very good opportunity for my baseball career to continue to develop.”

Wanting to improve as both a player and a person was instilled in Ford by his high school coaches.

“They taught me how to be a better man,” he said. “And I feel like that helped push myself harder to be better.”

He knows the transition to college baseball can be tough, but he said he’s ready to work on improving both physically and mentally. Ford is a pitcher, something that he said accents the mental toughness of the sport.

“Baseball for everybody is a mental game,” Ford said. “And I think to play at that level you have to be mentally strong.”

Ford started playing baseball when he was 5 and fell in love. In his sophomore year of high school, he realized he might have what it takes to play at the next level. Moving forward, he’s excited to compete and build new relationships.

“I think just putting my head down and working,” he said. “Trying to be my best and be me, not change who I am.”

Jayla Erpelding, Soccer, Newman University

Soccer success runs in the family for senior Jayla Erpelding, and she’s ready to carry on that legacy. 

Erpelding will play soccer at Newman University next year. Her sister, Kate, plays soccer at the University of Saint Mary. 

When Erpelding visited Newman, she fell in love with the university as a whole. 

“It’s a small, private university,” she said. “So it’s not too big. I really liked that.” 

She was able to practice with the team and enjoy the culture they built. Erpelding said when she watched the team, she was excited to envision what her role could be in the future.

 “The team environment was incredible. The coaches were so amazing and so positive, everyone was supporting each other,” she said.

Erpelding models her game off other active midfielders, which is evident when she plays for the Cardinals. She said she’s excited to work with coaches who have had faith in her and continue to develop as a player.

“My ultimate goal would just be to make the top team, work hard every day and see where it goes from there,” she said.

Brennan Moeckel, Track and Field, Pittsburg State University

Early in her high school career, Brennan Moeckel didn’t know if she would play college sports. But after achieving some new records and state placements her junior year, doors opened for the senior thrower.

She looked into a handful of schools before Pittsburg State reached out. The school was already on Moeckel’s radar because her track coach MaryJo Swann went there. A visit to the team and campus sealed the deal.

“I went up and toured there and their facilities were incredible, the coach was incredible, the team was incredible,” Moeckel said. “And the whole school was just awesome. So, I just kind of knew that’s where I wanted to go.”

Moeckel is also a state-medalist powerlifter, and she said the weight room and facilities at Pittsburg State caught her eye. But beyond amenities, Moeckel knew she had found the right spot when she met the track and field coach.

“We spoke with the coach for like half the day and he was just so cool,” Moeckel said. “Like, he was exactly the coach that I think I need, which was someone who was very willing to coach and give feedback, but also just be by your side when you need that. And I think that was a perfect fit for me. And what he provides his athletes with is incredible.”

She said her coaches and teachers, from all school levels, helped push her to be better. She’s moving forward with an important lesson she learned: keep raising the floor, not the ceiling. She said consistency is key and she would rather slowly improve her overall performance than chase a few high scores.

She’s ready to join the team and start learning from their success.

“Their track team is so incredible that I would love to sit back and figure out what their secret is,” she said. “Kind of getting into the swing of things and then eventually hoping to go make it to nationals and be a part of that.”

Reach reporter Cuyler Dunn at [email protected]

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