Six Northrop seniors put pen to paper Wednesday, making their college athletic commitments official during a signing ceremony at the school.
Wrestler Rashead “Joe” Clark-Cook will be attending the Indiana Tech, an NAIA program in Fort Wayne. Joe wrestled three years at Northrop, earning three varsity letters with a career record of 64-34 in the 106-, 113- and 120-lb. weight classes. He was voted team’s most improved wrestler as a junior, team captain as senior, and was an East Noble Invitational champion this winter. Joe is also a two-time ISWA State Placer. He plans on studying exercise science.
Jayden Schmenk will be playing football at NCAA Division III Trine University next fall. Jayden shined in all three phases while at Northrop. On offense, Jayden amassed 834 career receiving yards and three touchdowns. Defensively, he tallied three interceptions. He also played on the Bruins basketball team. He plans to study sports management and business.
Softball player Alexis Key will continue her career at Tiffin University, an NCAA Division II program in Tiffin, Ohio. Alexis is a pitcher and utility player who has totaled 144 strikeouts and a .640 winning percentage on the bump in two seasons. At the plate, she has a .432 career bating average with 144 hits and seven homeruns. She earned 1st Team All-Summit Athletic Conference honors as junior and 2nd Team All-SAC as a sophomore. The Bruins are back-to-back SAC champions and won a 4A sectional title in 2021. She plans to study forensics.
Jaylen Williams will play college football at Iowa Central, a junior college in Fort Dodge, Iowa. Jaylen earned 2nd Team All-SAC honors as a defensive back. He had five career interceptions and was named defensive team MVP. Jaylen plans on studying athletic training with hopes of eventually transferring to a Division I college in the future.
Golfer Tyrus Whitman will hit the links for Siena Heights, an NAIA school in Adrian, Michigan. Tyrus is a three-year letterman and team MVP each of the last two years. He is a two-time All-SAC golfer and advanced to regionals twice. Tyrus’ best rounds are a 35 for nine holes and a 74 for 18 holes. He is also on the Northrop bowling team, qualifying for state as a senior. Tyrus plans to study engineering.
Victoria Clibon will run cross country and track at the University of Saint Francis, an NAIA program. Victoria’s personal best in the cross country 5K, 18:37, is second-fastest in school history. She is the reigning SAC champion, qualified for regional all four years, went to semi-state three times and competed at the IHSAA State Championships as junior. She earned All-SAC and team MVP honors three times. In track, Victoria previously placed as SAC runner-up in the 1600- and 3200-meter runs. She also runs on the 4x800-meter and the distance medley relay teams. Victoria plans on studying psychology at USF.
Northrop is one of 31 high schools that partner with Parkview Sporst Medicine for athletic training, nutrition, PSM Performance, athletic rehab and other sports medicine services for Bruin student athletes. Learn more at www.parkviewsportsmedicine.com.