It’s that time of the year: 11 sign at HVA
HARDIN VALLEY — In addition to boasting a top academic reputation, Hardin Valley Academy also has had its share of great athletes come through the HVA doors in its brief history.
“We have 10 girls and one boy, and this morning I told my wife that Title IX is alive and well at Hardin Valley,” athletic director Bryan Brown said about having 11 HVA student-athletes who finalized their decisions to continue their education and athletic pursuits in college Wednesday morning, Nov. 13.
Signing National Letters of Intent papers in the school’s auditorium were Ellie Bachmann (Alabama); Kylie Cutcher (Carson-Newman); Abbey Aycock (Oakland University); Rachel Aycock (Michigan State); Lukas Cook (South Carolina); Olivia Snyder (Lincoln Memorial University); Maddi Allen (Bryan College); Kiana Lane (UT Chattanooga); Karly Livingston (Charleston Southern); Lauren Smyth (Tennessee Wesleyan) and Mariah Hall (Union College).
Bachmann, a track and cross country standout in Hardin Valley’s tradition-rich track program, is “our most decorated female track athlete and Alabama is getting a great student-athlete,” Brown said.
Cutcher, Abby Aycock and Rachel Aycock are all swimmers for the Lady Hawks.
Cook, a baseball player headed to Columbia to play for the Gamecocks, is one of the top pitchers and offensive players in District 4-AAA.
“I like the young coaches there and they have a great program,” Cook said. “I have two friends who are also committed there.
“When you play in the SEC, you see and play against some of the best completion in the country.”
Snyder, a volleyball player, is headed to Harrogate to play for the Lady Railsplitters. “I coach at Club Unite and I coached Olivia when I was helping out at Cedar Bluff, and I knew that she was going to be a great player and I look forward to seeing what she can do at LMU,” HVA head coach Joy Waller said.
On the soccer field, the Lady Hawks won the District 4-AAA Tournament title and had four of its players sign: Allen, Lane, Livingston and Smyth.
Hall will play softball at Union College in Barbourville, Kentucky. “She’s a leader and everybody loves her,” HVA head coach Whitney Hickam-Cruze said.
