This fall, Carmel has four students signing to play sports and continue their athletic careers in their next step at various colleges. The Carmel Christian family is incredibly proud of these four individuals.

The first student is Bryce Slay. Slay is committed to Marshall University where he will be playing on the basketball team. Slay started playing basketball when he was seven years old and has loved the sport ever since.

Slay said that he tries to emulate his game after Dallas Mavericks guard, Luka Doncic. Slay’s father, Tamar Slay, has been instrumental in Slay’s development. Coach Tamar Slay is the school’s varsity basketball coach, and all of the players have expressed how much they enjoy playing for him.

Slay prides himself in his leadership ability. Slay is a leader on the basketball court, in the classrooms and in the hallways of the school. Many of the students at Carmel look up to Slay. The Blue and Gold also featured Bryce Slay as one of the students of the week earlier this year. Learn more about Slay through this link.

Next up is senior girl, Sienna Jauch, who is committed to North Greenville for golf. Jauch is a standout athlete at Carmel and does a great job representing the women’s golf team. Jauch started playing when she was about 8 years old with her dad for fun and in various golf camps. She did not start playing competitively until her middle school years..

When asked about different influences in Jauch’s life, she said “my High School coach, Bill Smith, and my swing coach, Stuart McKechnie, who I’ve been with since seventh grade, have influenced me throughout the years. I met Coach Bill my freshman year of High School, and he has helped me on and off the course. He encourages me to follow my dreams while keeping Christ first. Coach Stuart helps me with my game and also is my mental coach, helping me when I am down and encouraging me. He has always motivated me to follow my dreams of playing in college because he believed in my potential.”

Jauch said that getting her first offer meant everything to her. “I have worked so hard, and to be able to play in college is a dream come true.” Jauch decided in eighth grade that playing golf in college was a goal that was very attainable for her. Jauch models what a student-athlete, committed to excellence in every arena, should look like here at Carmel.
Senior boy, Anderson Rider has committed to a DIII school in Virginia, Ferrum College, for baseball. Ferrum College is advancing and becoming a smaller DII school over the next couple of years, so Rider will get the opportunity to play DII baseball.

Rider was thrilled and honored when he received the offer from Ferrum. He said, “It means everything to me. I have worked so hard, and to be able to play in college is a dream come true.” Rider has worked tremendously hard to get to this point, and he is still looking forward to his senior year baseball season where he has big expectations for the team this year.

Rider also likes to watch other pitchers to better himself. When asked who he models his game after, Rider said “Everyone has unique skill sets. A pitcher I’d compare my style the most to would probably be Greg Maddux but my favorite pitcher ever is Trevor Bauer.”

Rider wants to continue to do something with sports after college. He has always thought working for a company like Barstool Sports would be an ideal work situation post college. Rider said he has been very passionate about sports since he can remember, not just baseball.

Finally, Landon Boyd has committed to Florida International University, a DI school near Miami, Florida. Boyd went to Carmel from fifth grade to tenth grade, transferred to Hickory Grove for a year and is back at Carmel for his senior year. Boyd has been playing baseball since he was 6 years old.

When asked who has been his biggest influence, Boyd said “Coach Heath McKay has been amazing since I first met him in sixth grade. He has done everything he could have to help me become a better player and is continuing to do so this year.”

Boyd is a leader on the baseball team, and he leads by example for the younger athletes. Boyd said his favorite quote is “It is not about the destination, it is about the journey.” Boyd models his life after this and continues to work hard to improve his craft and become the best baseball player he can be.

The Carmel community is eager and excited to watch these four fall signing athletes in their next steps at their various colleges. The hard work and dedication that each student athlete has put into their sport inspires fellow peers to strive for excellence.