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Activities Director Adam Starling commences National Letter of Intent (NLI) signing celebrations before families, friends and coaches in the library on Monday, Nov. 27. From left to right, seniors Carle Bachman, Bri Kappeler, Katie Morgenthaler and Colyn Wright sit with mock NLI contracts.
Media by Hailey Neuner'
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Seniors Carle Bachman, Bri Kappeler, Katie Morgenthaler and Colyn Wright smile as they look to continue their academic and athletic journeys at the collegiate level.
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Bri Kappeler, senior, signs a contract, which officially seals her commitment to the soccer program at Missouri State.
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Bri Kappeler, senior, is joined by MHS soccer coaches Jenna King (left) and Shawn McAteer (right) in the library to celebrate Winter Signing Day.
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Colyn Wright, senior, takes his seat beside head varsity baseball coach John Meyer on Monday, Nov. 27. Wright signed to play baseball for Westminster College in the fall.
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Colyn Wright, senior, smiles on Monday, Nov. 27. He has signed to play baseball at Westminster College in the fall.
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Katie Morgenthaler, senior, flashes a smile during Winter Signing Day on Monday, Nov. 27. She signed to play lacrosse for Rockhurst University.
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Katie Morgenthaler, senior, poses with MHS lacrosse coaches Marissa Albanello, Renee Abrolat and Katherine Schroeder during Winter Signing Day on Monday, Nov. 27.
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Carle Bachman, senior, signs to play softball at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville during Winter Signing Day on Monday, Nov. 27.
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Carle Bachman, senior, poses with sophomore Ellie Pagan (left). Friends and family decorated the table with balloons and flags to commemorate her signing.
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The MHS community gathers in the library on Monday, Nov. 27 to celebrate Winter Signing Day and four student-athletes as they pursue their academic and athletic goals.
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Senior Bri Kappeler sits at the table before her family. Cameras flash as she picks up a pen and signs her National Letter of Intent (NLI), binding her to the Missouri State soccer program.
“It signifies a new chapter in my life,” Kappeler said.
The conference champion defender and four-year varsity starter announced her verbal commitment in September 2022.
Kappeler and countless other student-athletes celebrated National Signing Day on Wednesday, Nov. 8. The NLI and financial aid agreements are validated on this milestone date.
“Although I won’t be playing in college for a few more months, it’s really exciting to make it official,” she said.
While MHS will host a mock winter signing day on Monday, Nov. 27, in the library, many athletes, like Kappeler, have already signed officially.
“It was fun to be able to celebrate with my family on a small scale,” Kappeler said.
She plans to attend MHS’ signing day in the presence of friends and coaches, although many of her future teammates were celebrated by their schools on Wednesday, Nov. 8. Kappeler said some of the fanfare is lost because of the time gap between signing celebrations.
“All of the athletes that will be participating will have already been signed for almost three weeks at that point, so I feel like you lose some of the excitement,” Kappeler said.
Nonetheless, she said this is the best solution to a plethora of conflicts.
MHS’ signing day falls on a Late Start Monday as designed by Activities Director Adam Starling to accommodate traffic, sports schedules and classes.
“Our parking lot situation doesn’t allow parents and grandparents to get in during the school day,” Starling said. “In the past, we have done it on Saturdays, but then if we do a Saturday morning signing, then that greatly impacts the teams that are currently in season not having some of their athletes before a game.”
Starling said a Late Start signing day would also provide athletes with ample time to get to class.
“I don’t want to make people feel rushed. This way I feel is the best to get the whole Marquette community involved,” Starling said.
The library will be decked out with a backdrop and tables for photo opportunities.
John Meyer, head baseball and softball coach, said this is a monument in a recruited athlete’s process.
“Only about a third of signed athletes fulfill their four years of eligibility,” Meyer said. “That number is so low because of burnout, the transfer portal and injury. That’s why the NLI is an important piece in binding a player mentally and physically to that college.”
