Pampa High School hosted the signing parties of three seniors who will be continuing onto the next level of academic sports. Tyler Reed signed his letter of intent to Southern Nazarene in Oklahoma for baseball, the alma mater of his high school baseball coach, Coach Samulowitz.
“It’s super exciting, when I knew Southern Nazarene was in the mix, I was thrilled for Tyler,” Samulowitz said. “It’s a great school, great for baseball but it’s also a place where he can enjoy the social life and the academics. When they came into the mix of colleges wanting him, I was almost pushing for them to be the final pick but I would’ve been astoundingly proud of him no matter what. For all of these guys, the game is something their so passionate about and being able to go and play in college is such an honor for each kid that gets to do that, and we as coaches want to do everything we can to get them there.”
While Reed was the only baseball player signing, Samulowitz has worked and coached with all three guys. Samulowitz shared some advice for the seniors on their next journey.
“The hard part hasn’t started yet, keep your head down and be ready to work,” Samulowitz said. “High school is hard, but if you think you’ve worked hard now, college is a whole new level. For each of these guys it’ll still be the sport they’ve been playing, but at a higher level. They’ll do great, these kids are Harvesters. I wish them all the best, we want all the best for them.”
Athletic Director, Cody Robinson imparted some wisdom on all the kids, both signing and in attendance for their fellow teammates.
“This level of support we are showing these guys today, should be shown for all signings we have,” Robinson said. “Signing to play a college level sport, of any sport is a big deal, the statistics on making those signings are small for us. We have to support all of our Harvesters when they get to go onto something big like this.”
Robinson being the athletic director, all three signings are something he gets to share the joy in, as he says, all these students and athletes are part of his family.
“This is an awesome thing, being able to have this opportunity shouldn’t be the only reason you play a sport. You play the sports you love, because you love them and then we have these amazing kids year after year that get to go onto the next level and it’s just such a huge sense of pride we have.” Robinson said. “The end goal shouldn’t be getting a college signing. The odds of getting to do this are so slim and that’s what makes it that much more exciting when we get to see it. In order to even make it to this point is being an awesome student when you’re a student athlete. Two of the kids we have going off to play college level want to be coaches, and that’s important because if you don’t have that, then we’ll have a day when we don’t have coaches anymore. As far as I can say, the three we have going away are hired as coaches for me. These kids are incredible.”
Robinson’s final advice to the three signings and the ones to come throughout the year.
“It’s such a huge honor for them, and for us to see them off,” Robinson said. “It’s not about getting to go and play, it’s about going out there and finishing, why it’s so important for us as coaches to drive in those skills of what it means to be a top level student athlete. P.R.I.D.E, take it with them.”
Madox Jones, who’s been playing football his whole life, will continue onto playing football at the college level. A road he never saw coming.
“My freshman year I didn’t play all that much, but once I started playing my sophomore year, colleges started looking at me,” Jones said. “That’s when it really became a reality I can take one of these opportunities to go and play.”
After a visit and tour from Hardin Simmons, Jones really felt at home with the place.
“They reached out to me about coming for a tour and seeing how I felt about the school,” Jones said. “After just being there I realized it was the place I wanted to be.”
A slight change in game play going from high school to college, Jones is eager to get down there and get to work.
“This is just a special feeling, not everyone gets the opportunity to go out and do this,” Jones said. “I want to get down there and just grow as a person and a student athlete.”
Andres Cervantes will also be attending Hardin Simmons and will be sharing a campus with his high school classmate and fellow Harvester. Both guys have played football for as long as they can remember. But once Cervantes started in the sport, this was the end game goal he was hopeful of.
“Since 7th grade I’ve wanted to go off and play college ball,” Cervantes said. “I felt like this was the only way I’d be able to go to college. Sports are what keep me in school and doing my best. So I’m so thankful for this chance.”
Both guys were drawn in to Hardin Simmons from the campus and staffing.
“Really everyone there was who helped me realize this is where I wanted to be. Coach Martin made me feel like it was already home,” Cervantes said. “My parents loved it and felt comfortable there, so that meant a lot to me. I’m looking forward to the chance to compete and be successful and make my parents proud.”
The Pampa News would like to congratulate all three of these guys on their signings and wish them good luck and all the best on their next chapter of life.
