Both Hallie Rice and Jenna Wade of Milton High School have officially made their collegiate plans after graduation. While Rice signed a golf scholarship with Huntingdon College, Wade opted to play college soccer for Darton State College on Thursday.
“I have been waiting for this for the past six years…it feels great to finally have this accomplished,” Rice said after committing to Huntingdon on Thursday afternoon.
Both her golf coach Tracey Worrell and personal golf coach Steve Bobe feel Rice will greatly benefit Huntingdon.
“Huntingdon is going to have a real plus on their golf team for the next four years…she is going to get better and better,” said Bobe, the golf director of Naval Air Station Pensacola. “The Huntingdon coaches told her that she will come in and fill in at the third spot, for a freshmen to come in at number three is pretty good.”
Worrell said Rice’s play on the golf course has been crucial for the lady Panthers.
“She has qualified for every match since she was here,” Worrell said. “She was very instrumental in leading our team to two district championships, a regional championship and an eighth place finish in state.”
Worrell also said Rice was usually the first player to be at golf practice as well as the last person to leave practice.
Rice’s said she has always had a passion to play the sport.
“Every day I would pass the golf course…I wanted to try it,” Rice said. “I just got hooked.”
While Rice opted to play collegiate golf for Huntingdon, fellow senior classmen Jenna Wade will play collegiate soccer for Darton State College in Albany, Georgia.
“I like the atmosphere there and it’s not too far away,” Wade said.
Wade is currently holds the school’s record for most points scored in soccer by a female. In her four years at Milton, Wade scored a total of 85 goals.
“It’s really going to be difficult to replace a kid like that but we are just so proud of her,” said Jeff Klug, the MHS girls soccer coach.
Klug believes Darton State will greatly benefit from the talents Wade can offer on the soccer field.
“(Wade) is going to bring an outstanding mid-field player, she has great vision,” Klug said. “She has a great ability to beat players one on one and she has a great ability to finish when she is inside the 18 yard box.”
Klug hopes Wade’s mentality towards the game has rubbed off on the her younger teammates.
“She just loves to play, she wants to be out there (on the field) all of the time,” he said.
Wade said she has always been passionate about playing soccer.
“I have played soccer since I was like four (years old), it’s all I have ever known. I have enjoyed it ever since.” she said.
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: MHS: Rice signs with Huntingdon College, Wade opts for Darton State College