Three Lamar School athletes signed to play their sports in college on Tuesday. Anniston Monsour signed to play soccer at the University of Southern Mississippi, Josie Wiggins signed to play soccer at East Mississippi Community College and Wes Pritchard signed to play baseball for East Central Community College.

Monsour said her soccer career at Lamar has had its ups and downs, but she enjoyed every year with the Raiders. She said she just wanted to improve every day on the soccer field, and that improvement has earned her a spot at the next level. She plans on studying nursing at USM.

“I always wanted to play college soccer, so it’s always been a goal of mine,” Monsour said. “It really started when I got familiar with Southern when my brother went there and I was like, ‘Oh wait, I like this campus.’ So, I was going to Southern either way, and it just worked out that I got this opportunity.”

Wiggins said she has enjoyed leading her Lamar team and competing in the soccer postseason with her teammates. Her favorite memory at Lamar is from last year when her team competed for a state championship, and she said she had a lot of fun with her teammates even though they came up short in the match. Wiggins is undecided on what she will study at EMCC

“They’re rebuilding their soccer program, and I’m just excited to help them continue to grow,” Wiggins said on her commitment to EMCC. “I’m really competitive, and I just really like to win. I just think I can help my teammates be confident and have the confidence to win and the want to win.”

Pritchard, a pitcher, has been in love with baseball for a long time now, but he said he fell in love with the coaches, staff and baseball program at ECCC when he visited the school. He said it feels good to have the opportunity to continue to play baseball. He wants to study construction science in college.

“It’s meant everything,” Pritchard said of his time at Lamar. “Not only just the athletics, but the school and the challenge that they provide getting me ready for college. I mean, the coaches, the players, the team around me, it helps a lot.”