Signings from around the area
BY Staff Reports
Sunday, February 10, 2013
2/10/13 at 7:02 AM
Much more signing day coverage: Check out more stories on area high school athletes, videos from selected area football standouts, complete coverage of TU, OSU and OU and more on our signing day site.
Anthony Wilkinson, Lincoln Christian
Sport: Football
School: Army
Signing Day exceeded Lincoln Christian wideout-defensive back Anthony Wilkinson's expectations.
"It was even more exciting than I thought," Wilkinson said. "It hasn't sunk in. I know it will, but I'm kind of in shock right now.
"I always wanted the chance to play Division-I football, and I knew I could get it, and now that it's happening, I'm realizing a dream."
In 2012, he caught 53 passes for 798 yards and 11 touchdowns. He had 128 career catches for 1,862 yards and 28 TDs.
Wilkinson committed to Army in December.
"They were the first (D-I) to offer," Wilkinson said. "There were a lot of moments when I thought it wouldn't happen (a D-I offer), but I kept trusting God."
A chance to play major college football and serve his country was an unbeatable combination for him.
Kris Yancey takes a picture of Kansas State signee Cre Moore with his parents, Steve and Mary Moore, at the National Signing Day ceremony at Broken Arrow High School. BRETT ROJO/For the Tulsa World
Cre Moore, Broken Arrow
Sport: Football
School: Kansas State
Kansas State has signed a few notable players from the Tulsa area in recent years, such as Booker T. Washington's Tyler Lockett and Keenan Taylor, and Jenks' Tramaine Thompson.
The Wildcats added another on Wednesday - Broken Arrow defensive back Cre Moore.
"They've had some big-time players from here," Moore said. "It's an up-and-coming program and I like the family environment."
Moore, who chose Kansas State over Tulsa, plans to study mechanical engineering.
Gabrielle Laub, Owasso
Sport: Gymnastics
School: Arizona
Any level of competition that Gabrielle Laub faces in college probably won't bring the same level of pressure that she has already experienced.
A two-time Junior Olympic Nationals participant, Laub chose to take her experience to Arizona.
"I really like the atmosphere there," said Laub. "Not to the mention the weather is nice."
Laub also considered Oklahoma, Louisiana State and Stanford.
- JOSH HALEY, World Correspondent
Devin Swift, Sapulpa
Sport: Football
School: Northeastern A&M
As Sapulpa's Devin Swift and three other teammates signed to play college football on Wednesday, someone said that he is a "running back's running back."
Swift was a three-year starter but missed the last six games in 2012 due to off-field problems.
"I've had some setbacks," he said. "But my brother had some success there and transferred out, and I went down there and really liked it. It felt like home and I feel like I can go down there and be successful."
Swift was in the Tulsa World's top-10 rankings of area running backs entering the past two seasons and was included in the All-World rankings of top 10 area players during the 2011 season.
"Devin is a very gifted athlete and has proved himself to be one of the top running backs/athletes in the state of Oklahoma," Sapulpa coach Mike Gottsch said. "I am very excited for him and look forward to watching him on Saturdays at NEO."
- MIKE MOGUIN, World Correspondent
Krissi Killion, Broken Arrow
Sport: Soccer
School: Oklahoma State
Krissi Killion fulfilled what is likely to be the longest commitment of any area signee on Wednesday.
"I committed real early - in my freshman year," Killion said. "I grew up an Oklahoma State fan and always wanted to go there."
Killion, a forward, however, did consider another college at one point.
"Notre Dame was on my mind," she said. "But I bleed orange. I am really glad Signing Day is here. At times, it seemed time was dragging waiting for it to get here."
Scottie Prealow, Owasso
Sport: Football
School: Lindenwood
If anyone has been an anchor in Owasso's impressive run over the last few years, it's Scottie Prealow.
The senior running back racked up 1,762 yards and 20 TDs to help the Rams win a district championship on their way to a state semifinal run. Prealow is Owasso's career rushing leader with 4,127 yards.
"College will be a different level, but I think I'll be ready," said Prea low, who averaged 9 yards per carry as a senior.
The first-team All-Metro selection fell in love with NCAA Division II Lindenwood on his visit to the university located just outside of St. Louis.
"The coaching staff and players welcomed me as if I was family," said Prealow.
- JOSH HALEY, World Correspondent
Sam Stephens, Bishop Kelley
Sport: Cross country
School: Pittsburg State
Stephens was part of a cross country team that found its best stride at the 2012 state meet. The Comet runners ran their best times ever only to finish second in the team race. The thing that takes the sting out of that was Stephens and the rest ran their best.
Now, Stephens will continue his running career at Pittsburg State in Kansas. His dad and older sister also attended the school. He made the decision to follow in the family's spikes after meeting everyone there.
"The coach was great and the team was great," Stephens said. "I just fit in there."
Roy Walker, Memorial
Sport: Football
School: Southeast Prep Junior College
Former Hale High School football coach Anthony Fogle knew Memorial was a place where he could do some solid recruiting. Fogle is the coach of Southeast Prep Junior College in Houston and sought the services of Walker, who is a wide receiver and linebacker.
"I'd like to go there for one year and then transfer to Division I," Walker said.
Northwestern in Alva and Northeastern A&M in Miami, Okla., also recruited Walker, who is the first in his family to sign a football letter of intent.
- JOHN D. FERGUSON, World Correspondent
Associated Images:
Lincoln Christian's Anthony Wilkinson poses with his family while signing with Army. Courtesy
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