Every year, Parkway Central hosts their annual Signing Day to congratulate student-athletes on taking the steps forward and committing to the college of their choice. This year’s Signing Day took place on March 12, 2025, and with a mix of gratitude, anticipation, and pride, Signing Day serves as a reminder of the hard work and dedication that Parkway Central’s student-athletes have put into their sports and education.
Senior Alyson Poe will be attending William Woods University this upcoming fall and joining their soccer team. Focusing in on the process of making this decision, Poe shares what exactly made her choose William Woods.
“I chose it because when I practiced with the team, they felt very welcoming and friendly, and it reminded me a lot of my club soccer, and I really like the coach as well. The campus is also very pretty,” Poe said.
Poe has played for the girls varsity soccer team since her freshman year, so inevitably, in some ways, it will be impossible for her to forget her experience.
“I’ll definitely miss the people because [during] high school soccer, we’re very close, and it’s just I’m going to miss playing soccer with some of my best friends from high school,” Poe said.
Although it may be hard for Poe to let go of the closeness within her current high school team, there is still much to look forward to.
“I’m most excited to meet and become really close with all my new teammates. I think it’ll be super exciting to have new teammates,” Poe said.
Senior Cole Hoehn also participated in Signing Day, and he committed to Missouri S&T to play volleyball and major in engineering. Choosing Missouri S&T was done early on in the college decision process for Hoehn due to the fact that they had the best to offer him.
“I really wanted to do engineering; that’s something I want to do in terms of a job and my future, and volleyball was something I wanted to do, and Missouri S&T had everything I was looking for in terms of academics and athletes,” Hoehn said.
Hoehn’s decision came after talks with the Miner coaches.
“They’ve been super honest with me and realistic in terms of how far I can go and just what options look like for me. They made sure I knew they were with me every step of the way,” Hoehn said.
Hoehn will look back on his high school days with fondness.
“I’ll miss the closeness that I have with the guys and the tight community. I know that I can replicate that in college just as I get to know the team more, but I’ll definitely miss that close aspect,” Hoehn said.
As the final signatures are signed and the celebrations continue, Signing Day at Parkway Central serves as a moment for these student-athletes to recognize their perseverance and dedication as they have reached this significant milestone. While this day marks the beginning of a new chapter, it’s also a reminder of the immense time spent, the bonds created, and the diligence truly paying off.
