Multiple Rock Bridge athletes sign to play at next level

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Seven Rock Bridge athletes signed their national letters of intent to play sports at the next level on Monday evening.

The signing ceremony included Bruin volleyball standout Kaylen Rush, who signed to play at Mizzou next year. The libero will join first-year head coach Dawn Sullivan's group at the Hearnes Center. Rush said said Sullivan came off as a very approachable coach, which made her feel at home at MU.

"I think that she's very calm, cool and collected and she also knows what she wants to do. I think that the way that she coaches...will fit with me. I appreciate the way that she interacts with her other coaches and with the team," she said.

Rush said it's an honor to play in her hometown and represent Rock Bridge in the Southeastern Conference.

"Not a lot of people get to do this, so I feel really special that I just get to be a part of my hometown," she said.

Rush was joined by multiple other athletes signing their letters of intent to play in college. Bruin basketball standout Addison Hopkins signed on to play at Missouri Science and Technology next season. In the 2022-23 season, Hopkins and her team finished second in class six, making it all the way to the state championship game in Springfield.

There were lots of track and field and cross country signings on Friday, including two athletes headed to Division I. You can find that whole list of athletes below.

• Grace Parsons - Track and Field - University of Nebraska
• Ian Kemey - Cross Country/Track and Field - Oklahoma State University
• Johnny Imboden - Cross Country/Track and Field - Webster University
• Noah Bredehoeft - Cross Country/Track and Field - Columbia College

Columbia College also picked up another Rock Bridge Bruins, as Sarah Thompson will cheer for the Cougars.