Dingler, Holt sign with programs in Texas
A week ago, Carson Dingler made a colorful splash with her college decision.
The Mary Persons senior pole vaulter posted a video on Twitter highlighting her finalists — Kentucky, Baylor, Stephen F. Austin, Texas Tech and Oklahoma. Then, to the tune of “Purple Rain,” she had a bucket of purple paint splashed onto her, the color of Stephen F. Austin’s program.
Super thankful for the opportunities that I've been given. It's been a long journey, but I'm not finished yet Time for the next chapter➡️ pic.twitter.com/GpObezszwl
— Carson (@_cheetahpv) November 8, 2016
Thursday afternoon, Dingler made her choice official, signing with the public university located in the far eastern Texas city of Nacogdoches.
The former FPD pole vaulter is a three-time GHSA Class 1A private champion, and her height at the 2016 state meet topped all participants in every class. She is closing in on the national high school record, coming close to clearing 14 feet in international competition during the summer.
Also Thursday, Veterans infielder Gabe Holt signed with Texas Tech.
Holt was going to play college baseball somewhere pretty decent. At first, it was Winthrop, which received his commitment early in his junior year at Veterans. But Holt took a big step up in the summer when he changed his future destination to Texas Tech.
The early signing allows Holt and his Veterans teammates to focus on another postseason run. The Warhawks were Class 4A semifinalists the past three seasons, and now they are in Class 5A.
Holt batted .376 last spring with three homers, 25 RBI and 18 steals in 20 attempts, after hitting .398 with 11 steals and 18 RBI as a junior, earning co-player of the year honors in Region 2-4A.
Texas Tech finished 47-20 last season, including 19-5 in the Big 12. It went 1-2 in the College World Series and was a consensus top-six team in final polls.
In addition, Dodge County’s Haley Holloway has signed with the Jacksonville softball program.
The three-sport athlete has been selected as all-region pitcher of the year three times with a 33-8 career record and 369 strikeouts in 315 2/3 innings pitched. She was named to the 2016 Georgia Dugout Club All-State team.