Athletics: 4 Warriors sign the dotted line

BRAINERD While rain clouds dampened the Brainerd lakes area Wednesday morning, the mood inside the Gichi-Ziibi Center for the Arts was bright and cheery for those awake enough.

Brainerd Warrior seniors Ty Nelson , Madi Miller, Mya Tautges and Karley Dunham signed their NCAA National Letters of Intent to continue their academic and athletic careers next year.

ADVERTISEMENT Dunham signed on to play volleyball at Bemidji State University, where she wants to study biochemistry and minoring in Spanish.

I chose Bemidji because its close to home and I love the team and the campus is great and theres a lake so that helps, Dunham said.

My sophomore year, they had me on unofficial visits and camps and thats where things started, but they couldnt actually recruit me until going into my junior year.

Thats when I started getting recruited by them.

The selling point was just the culture and the team and just how it felt being there.

Tautges signed to play softball at the University of St.

Thomas in St.

Paul.

She is still deciding what she wants to study.

I really liked the culture and the coaches and all of the teammates Im going to have, Tautges said.

They reached out and I went on a visit.

I decided that I really liked it.

They were my top option.

I just realized with all of the education and atmosphere I liked it the best.

Miller will run cross-country and track at South Dakota State University in Brookings, South Dakota.

Miller wants to study either nursing or biology.

I just filled out the recruiting form and the coach got back to me eventually, Miller said.

We went to a couple of visits.

I really liked the coach and the team atmosphere that they had there.

They were very welcoming.

I also liked how the school wasnt too big, but it wasnt small.

ADVERTISEMENT Nelson made the most dramatic announcement in the early morning.

Wearing a black zip-up jacket, Nelson stood and announced that SDSU would be his stop next fall.

The Class 3A State Champion triple jumper will do the triple and long jump in college.

He also wants to study accounting.

During the season, I emailed the schools and then I started talking to their coaches, Nelson said.

We went on a couple of visits to South Dakota State and went on a visit to North Dakota State over MEA weekend.

I just got to know the coaches and know the team and see what their facilities are like.

It came down to the coaching and the athletes on the team were super nice.

I just felt valued there.

All four students are multiple-sport athletes.

Nelson played quarterback this fall for the Warriors football team before an injury ended his season.

Nelson said hell be 100% for track and field this spring.

I like the idea of focusing on one thing because then you can put all of your energy toward it, Nelson said.

For instance, in the weight room, Im training specifically for this thing.

I think it will make it easier.

My foot is healing up nicely so well be good by track season.

Along with cross-country and track and field, Miller also competes in Nordic skiing during the winter.

She helped the Warrior girls team advance to the state meet last year.

It was always my dream to go to a division I school, Miller said.

I didnt really know that it could actually be a thing until I started working at it.

ADVERTISEMENT Tautges is preparing to compete in the Class 2A Swimming Meet this weekend.

She also plays basketball in the winter.

I know Im not going to play the most, but Id like to get some minutes and improve a lot because I have a lot to improve on still, Tautges said.

Dunham played basketball until this season, but will still plan on going out for golf in the spring.

Im doing post-secondary education and so Im taking college-level classes and that will help, Dunham said.

Ive also taken three years of Spanish here at Brainerd High School and I really like that, too.

JEREMY MILLSOP may be reached at 218-855-5856 or [email protected].

Follow on Twitter at www.twitter.com/jeremymillsop..

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