Today Prestonwood Christian Academy (PCA) honored seven student athletes who signed Letters of Intent to play sports at the collegiate level.

“I am incredibly proud of the seven students who signed today to play at seven high-caliber collegiate athletic programs,” said PCA’s Athletic Director, Chris Cunningham. “What impresses me more than their outstanding athletic talent, though, is their heart for the Lord. I know they are going to make a positive difference at these universities in more ways than just in their respective sports.”

Senior center Schnider Herard, of McKinney, signed to play men’s basketball at Mississippi State University next year.  As a PCA Lion, Herard has won two TAPPS Division I State Championships and was named MVP of last year’s State Tournament. Last season, Herard averaged 16 points per game, 10.5 rebounds per game and three blocks per game.  The Dallas Morning News named Herard to the Second Team All Area last season, and he is currently the 43rd ranked player in the country as well as being the fifth ranked center.  ESPN ranks him the 67th player in the country.

Senior Courtney Dow, who hails from Frisco, signed with Texas A&M University to play golf in 2016.  Dow is a member of the 2015 Rolex All American Team and is the #1 ranked player in the State of Texas (eighth ranked nationally) among all junior golfers per Junior Golf Scoreboard, which also ranks Dow as the sixth ranked player in the class of 2016 nationally. She is a seven-time USGA Championship Qualifier (five U.S. Girls’ Juniors, one U.S. Women’s Amateur and one U.S. Women’s Amateur 4-Ball), and five-time match play qualifier, including four top 20 finishes. Dow was selected by USGA as a member of the 2015 U.S. Junior Girls National Team to participate in the World Junior Girls’ Championship. Named by Golfweek Magazine as one of the Top 10 national recruits for the Class of 2016, Dow is a five-time American Junior Golf Association winner. She was the youngest ever 2012 Texas State Junior Champion and is a three-time TAPPS 5A individual State Champion including shooting the lowest score ever at the state tournament (67).

Senior Hanna Harrison, of Plano, signed to play women’s golf next year at Dallas Baptist University. Harrison has 11 total wins, including a win at the 54th Annual Jesuit DALLAS Invitational at Brookhaven and the 2015 Falcon Invitational. She is a three-time member of the TAPPS 5A All State Team. Junior Golf Scoreboard ranks Harrison 492nd overall, 55^th in Texas, and she is ranked 20^th in the class of 2016 in Texas.

Senior Sean Wilcox, who hails from Frisco, signed to play golf at the University of Tennessee.  Wilcox has played in 187 golf tournaments with 38 wins since starting at age eight. In 2013, he was named TAPPS All District, All Regional and All State. In 2014, he was named TAPPS All District and All State. In 2015 Wilcox was named TAPPS All District, All Regional and All State, and he was a member of the 2015 TAPPS Team State Championship Team in addition to being the 2015 TAPPS Individual State Champion. Wilcox has played in four U.S. Kids Golf World Championships, one European Golf Championship, and he is a three-time Dallas U.S. Kids Player of the Year. Wilcox earned a position in the European Ryder Cup and represented the United States with a second place finish. Wilcox was chosen to play in the Texas Jackie Burk Cup, is a two-time player in the Texas Invitational Cup and has played 15 American Junior Golf tournaments with three top 10 finishes and four top 20 finishes. In 2014, Jack and Barbra Nicklaus and the American Junior Golf Association recognized Wilcox as the top fundraiser for Jack Nicklaus Children Healthcare Foundation “Playing for the Future.

Senior infielder Ryan Cash, from Plano, signed to play baseball at Oklahoma State University in 2016. As a freshman, Cash was named Second Team All District. As a sophomore, he was named First Team All District, First Team All State, District Offensive Player of the Year, and he won the team’s Offensive MVP award. Last season, Cash was named First Team All District, First Team All State, District Defensive Player of the Year and won the team’s Defensive MVP award.  Cash was also named Lay Witnesses for Christ Christian Athlete of the Year.

Senior pitcher Jonathan Heasley, of Dallas, signed today to play baseball at Oklahoma State University.  As a freshman, Heasley was named Second Team All District. As a sophomore, he was named First Team All District and Second Team All State. Last season, Heasley was named First Team All District, First Team All State and was named the Team MVP.  Heasley was selected to the All Area Code Team last summer.

Senior shortstop Joshua Salim, who hails from Dallas, signed to play baseball for Ouachita Baptist University in 2016.  He earned Second Team All-District honors for the past two seasons and was the school’s Heart of a Lion award winner last year. 

Prestonwood Christian Academy has more than 1,600 students enrolled at three campuses: Plano (Pre-Kindergarten 3 through 12^th grade), PCA North in Prosper (Pre-Kindergarten 3 through 5^th grade) and PCAplus Virtual Academy.  The school has been recognized as having one of the strongest Christian education programs in the country providing intentional biblical worldview training and integration. PCA places great value on the growth of students’ spiritual health in addition to their scholastic endeavors and co-curricular activities. In addition to PCA’s spiritual development plan, the school promotes a rigorous Liberal Arts academic program. PCA is currently accepting applications for the 2016-17 school year. Interested families are invited a PCA Dessert Preview on Nov. 19, at 7:00 p.m. in the Leadership Center, 6801 W. Park Blvd., Plano 75093.  Online reservations and childcare are required at www.prestonwoodchristian.org/admissions.  Families may also call 972.798.6780 to schedule a Thursday tour.