Five athletes commit to play in college

Maddie Buller signed with the University of Nebraska Omaha for track and Maureen Bigsby signed with the University of Missouri Kansas City for soccer. Three Central baseball players also signed that day; Jory Boynton signed with Briar Cliff, Keegan Lathrum with Washington University and Malik Sams with Fort Scott CC.

Maddie Buller
Maddie Buller was on the Central volleyball team her freshman year, cross country her sophomore and senior year. “I love both of those sports…I just want to focus on track,” Buller said.
Buller comes from a family of track runners as well, her mom ran track in high school and her sister ran for two years at Central. It seemed fitting for Buller to run as well, she’s been running since her freshman year. Buller runs “the 100 meter hurdle, the 300 meter hurdle, the four by one and the four by four.” “My time last year in the 400 meter hurdle was 14.75, my 300 meter time was 45.32,” Buller said.
She’s now striving to beat records. “Our four by one time last year did break the Central record,” Buller said. “I’m super super close to breaking the 300 meter hurdle record, that’s my goal to break the record to get my name on the board,” Buller added.
,” Buller said about of her team at Central. “That sounds hokey, I just love the friendships and the family I have in them.”
Buller chose UNO because of the academics and it’s not terribly expensive. “I was prying about it and I kept coming back to UNO in my search and I’ve gotten scholarships,” Buller said. “They [her parents] were very supportive…they just wanted what’s best for me” Buller said.
“My goal is to graduate without any debt, and I’m coming close to it,” she added. Buller wants to stay close to her family. “I’ll still get that college experience by staying in the dorms but then I can still come home,” she said. During her time at UNO, Buller wants to major in History. “Possibly do research or be a curator or something like that,” Buller said.
“I decided to run track in college because I really love it, I’ve come to love it over the past four years,” Buller said “It just seemed like the next step.”
UNO’s track coach was part of what attracted Buller to the college, “He’s very nice and he’s very involved,” Buller said. The team is the perfect size for Buller, as well as the fact that they’re an up and coming team. “I liked the smaller atmosphere,” Buller said. She hopes to help her team win championships during her time there.
“I didn’t talk to my coaches that much about it, I kind of just did it and I think they were also supportive of where I wanted to go” Buller said. “They know that I love to run and they wanted the best for me track wise and academically wise. I’m not going to be able to run for the rest of my life, I have to get a good education to be able to support myself.”
Maureen Bigsby
Maureen Bigsby has been playing soccer for Central since her freshman year. “My older sisters both played soccer… my dad and mom are pretty athletic; they got us into soccer,” Bigsby said. Bigsby has played other sports but never thought of playing anything else. “Soccer has always been my main sport,” she added. Bigsby plays midfield and center mid and outside mid.
Outside of Central Bigsby plays in a club team. Playing for Central Bigsby holds records for a number of goals, “I don’t know how many, but my dad has it on record,” Bigsby said.

I just love the family I have in them and the friendships that I’ve created and the memories I will be able to look back on and always smiling.”

— Maddie Buller

“Practices in general we’re always goofing around and having fun. We’re not like the best team, we take things seriously but we have a chill air about it,” Bigsby said about her team. “I just love the girls,” she added.
Bigsby chose to play soccer in college since it was a big part of her life. “It’s my identity and I feel like I would be kind of lost, I wouldn’t know what to do with myself,” Bigsby said. Bigsby plans to enter the medical field. “I’m thinking about doing neuroscience,” she said.
She’s had the opportunity to interact with the coaches and the players at UMKC. “I haven’t really met any of the incoming girls, I’ve met the freshmen present and coaches,” Bigsby said. “My biggest strength as a soccer player is probably my foot skills, I may not be the strongest or most aggressive or the fastest or the strongest kick but I think my vision with foot skills and passing and finding an open player I would say is my biggest strength,” Bigsby said.
“I really like it, it’s not too big and not too small,” she said of the campus. “It’s in downtown Kansas City, which is really nice.”
Bigsby’s parents were “keen” on keeping her close, “but for the most part they said choose what you think would be the best fit for you,” Bigsby said. “I think UMKC is a good fit for me,” Bigsby said.

Jory Boynton
Jory Boynton has been playing baseball all his life, “I just love the game, I’m pretty passionate about it,” Boynton said.
Everyone in Boynton’s family has played baseball. “My sisters played softball and both my brothers are currently playing baseball right now. My dad did and my mom played softball,” Boynton said.
Boynton pitches and plays first base for Central. “Ever since eighth grade year I’ve played for Central on the freshman team,” Boynton said. “I’ve been playing ever since,” he added. Boynton plays Summer Ball for team U.S.A., outside of Central.
Boynton remembers his first ever baseball game of his freshman year. “We beat Burke 3-2 and that was a night game,” Boynton said. “It was really exciting it was my first actual high school game during the year.”
Briar Cliff has attended many of Boynton’s games, “They have been watching me ever since last year,” Boynton said. “I’ve visited many times; I like the campus and the players and coaches.”
Boynton didn’t really want to just quit baseball, playing for college gave him the opportunity to continue doing what he loves. “I’ve always wanted to play, just keep going,” Boynton said. “It’s been my dream as a little kid to play college baseball even going on further than that.”
“I am looking into being a history teacher,” Boynton said. His history teachers throughout his time at Central have inspired him. “I’ve been inspired by all my history teachers throughout my high school career,” he said. Joe Mickeliunas and Scott Wilson in particular. “The classes are just so fun, I love history.” Boynton said.
Boynton’s parents advised him that education should always come first; he found that with Briar Cliff. “My head coach went to Briar Cliff University, and they said I had a lot of potential there.” Boynton said.
Boynton looks forward to playing baseball in college and making new friends. “It’s going to be different living in another state for four years that will definitely interesting,” Boynton said.
“Thanks to all my coaches,” Boynton said. “It really just pushed me and helped me along the way.”

Keegan Lathrum
Keegan Lathrum started playing baseball at a young age. He’s played other sports, but not while in high school. He’s the only one in his family who plays baseball.
Lathrum plays short stop and pitcher for the Central baseball team. “I’ve been playing for Central since my freshman year and I’ve been playing varsity since sophomore year,” Lathrum said.
His most fond memory of his team was when they went to Weigh field Nebraska to play. “It was a nice stadium, nice field. Got to play in a really cool park and a really cool atmosphere, having a good time,” said Lathrum.
Lathrum will be attending Washington University as a baseball player. “More for academics,” said Lathrum about why he chose Washington U, “Baseball kind of came later.”
The engineering department was what attracted Lathrum to the university as well as the location. Mechanical engineering is the career Lathrum is looking towards.
He’s had the chance to talk to the coach, but not the team yet. “I’ve definitely talked to the coach,” Lathrum said. “It’ll be a different experience form here, he is way different than our coach but it’ll be something new, something different.”
He’s also had the chance to visit the campus before. “It’s pretty, all walking, so it’s nice. It’s not too big you can walk everywhere,” Lathrum said.
The opportunity to continue playing baseball was a reason why Lathrum decided to play while in college. “I’m not ready to quit quite yet,” Lathrum said.
He hopes to offer experience to his new team, “Just a lot of playing baseball, but for a good team,” Lathrum said.
New experiences and something different is what Lathrum is looking forward to in college. “In college baseball you get to travel a lot more, more games, just a different feel,” Lathrum said. “Of course college is another step in getting done with school.”
Malik Sams
Malik Sams’ dad introduced him to start playing baseball at a young age; he’s been playing since then. “I continued it because it was my favorite sport, I just like playing it,” Sams said.
Sams also plays basketball and football for Central as well. “It was hard, but it was real fun at the same time,” Sams said. “It took a lot of time out of my day but I learned how to manage it so I enjoyed it,” he added. Sams older brother played baseball and he went to play in college.
In baseball, Sams has played center field and pitch since his freshman year as well as playing basketball and football since then. Sams is not part of any teams outside of Central though. He doesn’t hold any records, “I know I threw a complete game shutout against the number two team last year. I think I had the most strike outs last year out of the team,” Sams said.
Of his Central baseball team, Sams remembers his trip to South Dakota as one of his fondest memories. “We played there real well, it was pretty fun,” Sams said.
Sams choose Fort Scott CC for their good baseball program and their academics. “The coaches are real nice too,” Sams said. Sams is still thinking of playing basketball or football while in college. “I’m still thinking about that, I might play football.” Sams said. “I got to decide if I have time for it.”
“They gave me the chance to go on to the next level,” Sams said about Fort Scott CC. The fact that they allowed Sams to get his education for free while playing baseball was a major factor that made him choose Fort Scott CC. There Sams plans to study business marketing.
Sams has visited the college before, “He was a real nice person, real good coach,” Sams said of the baseball coach at Fort Scott CC. The campus was also nice, “To be a small campus they have some nice things. I’m looking forward to it,” he added.
His ability to pitch as well as play outfield is something he hopes to contribute to the team. “You can ask my team mates, you never see me mad. I’m always positive,” he adds.
Sams looks forward to getting his degree and being able to play at the same time while in college.
Sams, family and coaches advised him to choose a college that was best for him. “At the end of the day,” Sams said. “I felt that I made the proper decision.”