South Side senior student-athlete Evan Walda will continue his running career at Valparaiso University.
The distance runner signed his national letter of intent with to run cross country and track & field at the NCAA Division I school in Northwest Indiana.
"I liked the atmosphere that I got from the coach and the team," Walda said in a statement from the South Side athletic department. "Academically, I fit in there very well; and the cross country coach emphasizes having a strong education."
In cross country, Walda placed 4th at the Summit Athletic Conference championships and qualified for semi-state as a senior. Walda ran the 1600- and 3200-meter races in track.
Walda earns a 4.03 in the classroom, and ranks 11th in the Archers senior class. He is also South Side's nominee for the Parkview Sports Medicine Dr. James E. Albright Excellence Scholarship.
South Side is one of 26 high schools that partners with Parkview Sports Medicine for athletic training, nutrition, sports performance, athletic rehab and other sports medicine services. Learn more at www.parkviewsportsmedicine.com.