Phil Hicks - Tyler Paper
Bishop Gorman seniors Cody Carter and Kate Cleofe mapped out their future by signing athletic scholarships on Monday during a signing ceremony at Haddad Gymnasium.
Carter signed to play football with Tabor College in Hillsboro, Kansas.
Cleofe inked to play volleyball at Oklahoma City University at the state capital of Oklahoma.
The two Crusaders will now be a Bluejay (Carter) and a Star (Cleofe). They signed their letters in front of athletic director Monica Davis, coaches, family, friends, teammates and classmates.
Carter, who transferred to Gorman for his senior season from Whitehouse, is excited about playing collegiate football at the Kansas school.
“I felt like Tabor was the right place for me,” Carter, a wide receiver, said. “The campus was beautiful, the people were welcoming, and I just felt at home.”
Carter, who plans to major in kinesiology and to eventually become a physical therapist, said Gorman has prepared him for college.
“Gorman has really been a blessing from education to helping me to learn more about myself and how to learn,” Carter said. “As far as football, (Crusaders) Coach (Edward) Burns pushed me. He pushed me to the limits, so I feel like I not only got mentally stronger, but also physically stronger.”
Carter’s parents, Cris and Hank Carter, and brother, Jerry, were on hand for the ceremony.
Carter thanked God, his parents, and his brother for helping him, plus the Gorman teachers and coaches as well as teammates.
Cleofe will be playing Libero for OKC. The Oklahoma City school was the right fit for her, she said.
“When I first visited the school, all the girls were super welcoming,” Cleofe said. “Plus, it is a Christian-based school and I would love to grow in my faith there, while also getting an education.”
Cleofe plans to major in nursing.
She said Gorman prepared her educationally, spiritual and mentally for the journey ahead.
Cleofe’s parents, Daisy and Ramil Cleofe, and brother Sid were in attendance.
The Lady Crusader thanked God, her parents, brother Sid, teachers, coaches and teammates.
OCU is in the Sooner Athletic Conference and is an NAIA member school. Members of the league in volleyball include: Nelson (Texas), Texas Wesleyan, John Brown (Arkansas), Mid-America Christian (Oklahoma), Wayland Baptist (Texas), College of the Ozarks (Missouri), Science & Arts (Oklahoma), Oklahoma Panhandle State, Southwestern Christian (Oklahoma), Langston (Oklahoma) and Central Christian (Kansas).
Tabor College competes in the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference, the oldest conference in the NAIA. The KCAC has 12 football playing members in Avila (Missouri), Bethany (Kansas), Bethel (Kansas), Evangel (Missouri), Friends (Kansas), Kansas Wesleyan, McPherson (Kansas), Ottawa (Kansas), Saint Mary (Kansas), Southwestern (Kansas) and Sterling (Kansas).