Seven Panthers make the leap to college ball

Dreams are coming true for seven Washougal High School senior athletes.

On Tuesday, they all gathered with their parents and coaches for a commitment recognition ceremony to celebrate their opportunities to keep playing the sports they love in college.

“It’s exciting,” said Audrianna Kallie, who is going to play soccer for Yakima Valley College. “I feel like we haven’t had this many people go off to college to play sports in a while. We all kind of grew up together, and now we’re about to be college students. It’s surreal.”

Kallie is one of four Panthers bound to play soccer at the next level. Sisters Chloe and Zoey Brimhall will reunite with 2016 WHS graduate Baylee Wright at Lower Columbia Community College, in Longview. Elizabeth Gregory will join the Northwest Christian University women’s soccer team, in Eugene, Oregon.

“Hard work pays off,” Chloe Brimhall said. “A lot of it is what you do on your own. You can’t just expect things to stay the way that they are. You have to work for the name that you have.”

Valedictorian Ryan Krout will be playing baseball for Pacific University, in Forest Grove, Oregon.

“It’s been a long journey,” he said. “This has been a dream of mine since I was a little kid. It’s a dream come true.”

Krout enjoyed sharing this moment with the kids he grew up with in athletics. He said all of these Panthers did so much for this community, and he is excited to see where perseverance takes them.

“Go off on your own path, learn and discover new things, but never forget where you came from,” Krout said. “All the hard work and lessons we learned in Washougal.”

Collin Prangley joins the Centralia Community College men’s basketball team.

He scored 442 points for Washougal last winter, which was the fifth-most points in school history.

“I’m grateful for the opportunity to take my love for basketball to the next level,” Prangley said. “I’m ready for it. I love the competition.”

Kayla Lagerquist looks forward to pitching and swinging for the fences at Concordia University, in Portland.

She believes all of these Panthers have a bright future, and encourages them to keep pursuing their dreams.

“I think we can all agree that this is exciting,” Lagerquist said. “Our futures are finally beginning. Our goals are coming true right now.”