Numerous CJ athletes sign to continue athletic careers after high school

 

Payton Walker Baseball Missouri Southern State University
Ethan Hutcheson Golf Missouri Southern State University
Haley Pope Tennis Seminole State University
     
     
     
     
     
     
     

 

Walker signs with Southern

The Jasper County Citizen, 11/23/11

After years of playing baseball for Carl Junction high school baseball coach Flave Darnell, senior Payton Walker has opted to play for another Darnell next year. Walker decided to remain local for the stage of his career, signing a national letter of intent to play baseball at Missouri Southern State University for head coach Bryce Darnell, brother of Flave.

Walker has been a 4-year starter for Carl Junction and was a key member of the successful Bulldog's pitching staff. in the 2010 season, Walker posted a 2.20 ERA on the mound. With a 5-3 record on the mound, Walker threw 66 strikeouts. In his sophomore year, Walker was 8-2 with 85 strikeouts and threw his first no-hitter. In addition to district titles, Walker helped his team to the State runner-up finish in 2009.

Along with his success on the diamond, Walker, at 5'11" and 158 pounds, is a member of the Carl Junction Bulldogs varsity basketball team. The athletic senior helped his team to Big 8 championships in both sports in his junior year. The son of Mike and Anna Walker, Payton plans to major in business while attending MSSU.

 

Hutcheson to play golf for Southern

The Jasper County Citizen, 11/23/11

Carl Junction High School senior Ethan Hutcheson has opted to continue his education and his golf career at Missouri Southern State University following graduation. Hutcheson signed a national letter of intent to play golf for the Joplin university during a recent signing ceremony held at CJHS. The son of Randy and Christie Hutcheson, Ethan plans to major in accounting, with a minor in international business.

With his senior high school season still in front of him, Hutcheson has already made the CJHS record books, with a hole-in-one in 2010 while competing in the Carthage Invitational. In his junior year, Hutcheson posted five top-5 finishes. Hutcheson also placed second in the District tournament, and finished in the top ten at Sectionals. He placed 22nd in a 2010 State Tournament appearance.

As a student-athlete, Hutcheson was also a member of the Carl Junction Bulldogs football team for four years. He played basketball in his freshman and sophomore season, also playing baseball one year for Carl Junction.

 

Pope signs to play tennis at Seminole

By Jim Henry, Joplin Globe, 12/16/11

Tennis becomes a family affair next semester at Seminole State (Okla.). Haley Pope, a senior at Carl Junction High School, signed a scholarship agreement on Thursday with Seminole State. Pope will graduate from high school this month and enroll at Seminole State in January. There she will be re-united with older sister Erica, who will be finishing her sophomore year. “I really wanted to play tennis with my sister again,” Haley said. “I was planning on graduating at semester and going somewhere else until I got this offer.” The sisters, daughters of Martha and Jerry Pope, played as a doubles team at Carl Junction in 2009 when the program was revived. They won the Big 8 Conference doubles title.

As a junior Haley Pope won conference and district doubles titles with Emily Cook as her partner, and she and partner Megan Boline finished first in conference and second in district this past season. Haley Pope also was Big 8 champion at No. 2 singles this fall. Haley Pope started playing tennis when she was in the seventh grade. “It’s been a goal of mine to play college tennis,” she said. “Hopefully my sister and I can play together this spring for one more semester.”