Prestonwood Christian Academy (PCA) honored five athletes and PCAplus, PCA’s online school, celebrated three athletes, all who will play their sport at the university level.
Head of School, Dr. Larry Taylor, commended the students for their achievements. “At Prestonwood Christian Academy our goal is that students would enter the classroom or athletic field being challenged to go above and beyond. I am very pleased to be a part of the ceremony today and want to commend the students, parents, faculty and coaches as we celebrate the next step of the journey for these students.”
Earlier in the day, PCA held a signing ceremony for five student athletes:
Senior Caroline Stogner of Lewisville signed to join the University of Alabama at Birmingham volleyball program next year. Stogner has excelled on PCA’s Volleyball Team, playing in the State Championship title game in 2017 (State Championship Runner-Up), 2018 (State Championship) and 2019 (State Championship Runner-Up.) She was named First Team All-District in 2017, 2018 and 2019 and was the District MVP in 2018 and 2019. Stogner was named to the All-State Tournament Team in 2017, 2018 and 2019.
Ryan Patterson from Carrollton has committed to play baseball at Baylor University. In the 2019 season, the team named him Co-Offensive Player of the Year, and in District he was named Offensive Player of the Year, second ranked player in the district and was 1st Team All-District and 1st Team All-State. In 2018, Patterson was named 1st Team All-District and was named the Lions’ MVP and Offensive MVP. In 2017, he was the Co-Defensive Player of the Year for the Lions.
River Ridings of Carrollton committed to play baseball at Texas Christian University as a sophomore, and today he officially signed the paperwork. He was named PCA’s 2019 Co-Defensive Player of the Year, and in District play, he was the Pitcher of the Year, fourth ranked player in the district, 1st Team All-District and 1st Team All-State. In 2018, Ridings was the team’s Co-Defensive MVP and was named to the 1st Team All-District. In 2017, Ridings received Honorable Mention All-District.
Luke Savage of Dallas also committed to play baseball at Texas Christian University during his sophomore year. Last season he was the Lions’ Team Co-Offensive Player of the Year and MVP. Savage was named the District MVP, first ranked player in the District, was on the 1st Team All-District and 1st Team All-State, as well as being named Academic All-State. In both 2017 and 2018, Savage was the team’s Co-Defensive MVP and named to 2nd Team All-District.
Jack Walton of Carrollton, PCA's Varsity second baseman, will join the Colorado School of Mines baseball team next year.
Later, PCAplus held a signing day ceremony for three students who participate in high-level gymnastics outside of school. The flexibility of online classes via PCAplus has helped these athletes maintain their rigorous training schedules.
Madison Benson, from Coppell, a four-time Junior Olympics (JO) National Qualifier (2016-2019) will attend North Carolina State University. In 2019, she achieved second on the floor and tenth in All Around (AA) at the Junior Olympics. Benson was a 2019 State Champion Level 10 State AA as well as a Regional Qualifier, Vault Champion, fourth on floor and third in AA.
Chae Campbell of Carrollton will attend the University of California at Los Angeles. Campbell has been nominated for the 2019 Junior Olympics National Gymnast of the Year Award, is a 2019 JO National Team Member and attended the 2019 Women's Junior Olympic National Championships in Indianapolis where she placed second in Floor Exercise and third in All Around. She also competed at the 2019 Level 10 Texas State Championships placing first in Vault, third in Bars, second on Beam, second on Floor and second All Around. She competed at the 2018 Level 10 Texas State Championships placing first in Vault, and first on Bars. In 2017, Campbell competed internationally in France and helped the team place third and she placed first on Vault individually.
Isabel Mabanta of Frisco will attend the University of Denver next year. She is the 2019 Regional Level 10 All Around Champion and the Regional Beam Champion. In 2018, Mabanta was the JO National Beam Champion, and at 2017 International Competition in Belgium, she was in the Top 15 All Around out of more than 20 countries.