Alabama Ledger www.AlabamaLedger.com
The Sports Ledger www.TheSportsLedger.com
PAGE 5B November 2025
Auburn Has Successful Fall Sports Signing Day
Auburn University had a successful fall 2025 signing day in several different sports. These are listed below. SOCCER Auburn soccer and head coach James Armstrong announced that the program’s 2025 signing class will consists of six student-athletes from six of the best club programs in North America. “We’re very excited about the addition of these six young ladies to our program,” Armstrong said. “They’re all outstanding players from outstanding clubs who are going to give us some much-needed depth in every line. They’re going to jump right in and start competing with our returners straight away. We cannot wait to welcome each of them to The Plains very soon and start working together toward our goals for the next season!” Positionally, the group is made up of two forwards, two midfielders and two defenders. Five of the women hail from the United States, coming from California, Florida, Mississippi, Missouri and New York. One player joins the squad from Canada. Auburn soccer’s newest additions are listed below. • Teigan Cunnane (MF) Albertus Magnus HS (New York) • Tamar McKey (D) Berkeley High School (California) • Emma Musiek (MF) Clayton High School (Missouri) • Torrey Polk (F) Jackson Preparatory (Mississippi) • Chloe Taylor (D/MF) Burnaby Central (Canada) • Izzy Whitaker (F) Ponte Vedra High School (Florida) SOFTBALL The 2026 Auburn softball class is the first group fully recruited by co-head coaches Chris and Kate Malveaux. The Tigers celebrated with a nationally ranked squad that featured numerous all-state and all-American athletes from across the country. “This is our first true recruiting class here at Auburn,” said co-head coach Kate Malveaux. “It’s one that hits our style of play on the head: gritty and in your face with a good mix of athleticism, physicality, discipline and sheer competitiveness. We could not be more excited to welcome each of them to the Auburn Family!” According to Softball America’s recruiting rankings, Auburn softball secured six four-star signees, landing the overall No. 14 ranked signing class in the country. The six signees will join Auburn next fall. All six members of the 2026 signing class are ranked as one of the top 15 recruits from their respective state with five ranking inside the top 10. The group has combined for four All-America selections, three All-State honors, six major yearly awards and have competed and won championships at the state and national levels. Auburn’s 2026 class features: infielder/pitcher Leah Byrd (Acworth, Georgia), outfielders Bella Maria (Barnegat, New Jeresy) and Cece Springfield (Smyrna, Georgia), infielder Payton Valentine (College Station, Texas), catcher Taylor Surratt (Indian Trail, North Carolina) and pitcher Camryn Winiarski (Midlothian, Virginia). MEN'S GOLF Auburn men’s golf and head coach Nick Clinard announced the signing of three student-athletes set to join the program at the start of the 2026-27 season. “We are so blessed to add Alex, Hampton and Smith to the Auburn golf family,” Clinard said. “They are excellent players, but more importantly, they are high-character young men from great families who will help continue to develop the culture in and out of our locker room. We’re excited to welcome them to The Plains soon!” Joining the program are Hampton Beebe, Alex Holder and Smith Summerlin. Beebe hails from West Palm Beach, Florida; Holder is a native of Fort Wayne, Indiana, and Summerlin comes to The Loveliest Village on The Plains via Raleigh, North Carolina. WOMEN'S GOLF Zara Anand, Kallyn Black and Gia Raad each signed with the Auburn Women's Golf Team. Anand, a native of New Delhi, India, will join the team as the No. 1-ranked amateur in India. She has represented her home country at the Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific earlier this season and as a member of the Indian National Team. Anand finished in the top 10 at the Queen Sirikit Cup and was the top amateur at the Ladies European Tour’s Hero Women’s Indian Open this year, tying for 15th place. “Zara is a diamond in the rough,” Auburn head coach Melissa Luellen said. “She is so dedicated to the game of golf, dedicated to her studies and anything she puts her mind to. She’s really a coach’s dream. Someone who works really hard and is passionate. When she came and visited Auburn, her eyes just lit up because she was so excited.” Black will arrive on The Plains from Greensboro, Georgia, where she was the 2025 Georgia High School Association state medalist. She was also the PGA High School Nationals co-medalist earlier this year. Black has won twice on the AJGA Tour at the 2025 Vaughn Taylor Championship and the 2024 Visit Owensboro Junior Championship. In 2024, she earned AJGA Rolex All- America honors and finished inside the top 10 at the AJGA Ping Invitational. “Kallyn is an Auburn Tiger through and through,” Luellen said. “She’s a really talented young lady and has a great instructor at Lake Oconee. Great fundamentals, which in this game, you have to have. She works hard on her game and is getting stronger and stronger.”
Raad will join the team from Johannesburg, South Africa, where she was the top-ranked player in the nation in 2024. She is a two-time South African Amateur champion and won the Africa Amateur in 2025. Raad also captured the English Girls Open Championship in 2023 and was the top finishing amateur at the Ladies European Tour’s Investec SA Women’s Open earlier this year. “Just a fabulous player, great girl, really fun and excited to be an Auburn Tiger,” Luellen said. “I first saw Gia at the ANNIKA Junior Invitational and was immediately impressed with her golf swing, her tenacity and her passion for the game. She’s going to be a real asset to the program.” EQUESTRIAN Thirteen riders have signed to join the Auburn Equestrian team for the 2026-27 academic year. Auburn will add eight Western riders to the team: Hannah Borders (Missouri City, Texas), Charlie Brooks (Laurel Hill, Florida), Delaney Lee (El Dorado Hills, California), Lindsey Lester (Waterloo, Illinois), Landri Lisac (Pueblo, Colorado), Leila Palestrant (Scottsdale, Arizona), Maddie Rippeon (Mt. Airy, Maryland) and Maggie Robinson (Norfolk, Nebraska). The Tigers will also have five Jumping Seat riders join the squad: Taylor Cawley (Wellington, Florida), Rylynn Conway (Fair Haven, New Jersey), Brooke Hagerty (Terrebonne, Oregon), Parker Peacock (Winston-Salem, North Carolina) and Hayden Scherer (Truckee, California). BASEBALL With the early signing period for 2026 on starting Wednesday, November 12, 2024 head coach Butch Thompson and the Auburn baseball program have signed the No. 7 class in the country according to Perfect Game. The class, which was also rated by Baseball America as the No. 11 class in the country, is Thompson’s seventh top-15 class since taking over the helm of the program 10 years ago, including his third straight top-10 class. The group is highlighted by seven top-200 players according to Perfect Game and features a mix of players spanning from Florida to Wisconsin to Pennsylvania and New Jersey. More information about each individual player will be released at a later date. GYMNASTICS Head coach Jeff Graba and the Auburn gymnastics team signed three student-athletes for the 2027 season. Coming to the Plains next year will be Ella Fine (Thomasville, North Carolina), Lily Powers (Ramsey, New Jersey) and Audrey Snyder (Annapolis, Maryland). “This is one of the top recruiting classes that we’ve ever signed,” Graba said. “We are so excited to welcome Ella, Lily and Audrey to the Auburn gymnastics family. All three should be able to contribute on all events very early in their careers. They are very talented and experienced at the highest levels of competition and most importantly, they are excited to be Auburn Tigers!” WOMEN'S BASKETBALL Two top-100 recruits will join the Auburn women’s basketball program for the 2026-27 season. Auburn will welcome Ashley Knox (6-0, Guard, Tampa, Florida) and Zaniyah Williams (5-9, Guard, Norfolk, Virginia) to The Plains next season. “We are really thrilled about adding these two young women to our program,” head coach Larry Vickers said. “We targeted hard-working and committed players who will fit in perfectly with the Auburn way. Threes will be raining in Neville.” According to ESPN, Knox is the No. 72 prospect in the nation, and Williams is the No. 77 recruit nationally. "I am excited to announce my commitment to Auburn University to play under Coach LV. I thank God for blessing me with this opportunity and guiding me along this journey. I have an amazing support system that has helped me reach this point, and I’m truly grateful for my family, coaches, and teammates who’ve pushed me to be my best. I can’t wait to be part of the Auburn family and contribute to something special. War Eagle," said Williams.
Photo by Brandon K. Pierce, The Sports Ledger
Mya Glass (#3) attempts a layup during the Sardis Lions 71-32 victory over Moody on Thursday, November 13, 2025.
Sardis senior Lamont Richardson goes airborne during the Lions game against Moody on November 13. Sardis won game 64-63. Photo by Brandon K. Pierce, The Sports Ledger Jacksonville State Golf Adds Two For 2026 Jacksonville State University Director of Golf and women's head coach Robbie Fields has added two players to the 2026 roster during this year's early signing period. The Gamecocks have added Prattville native Julie Waldo and English standout Tala Clarke. "Our 2026 class is a testament to the growth and development of our program and Jax State as a whole," said Fields. "I am proud and appreciative of the buy-in, passion and belief Julie and Tala have as Gamecocks. They will make our team better and I look to the impact they will make in their Jax State careers." Waldo is the top player in the state in the 2026 class and is 71st nationally. She is currently second in the Alabama Golf Association Girls Junior Rankings and is the two-time defending AHSAA 1-3A Girls individual state champion. "Julie is a competitor; there is no event too big or too small for her," said Fields. "She shows up to compete, lives with a passion and energy that lights up the room, and knows what it means to work hard. It is special for the top player in our state to be fully bought into and believe in Jax State, and we are so excited to welcome Julie to our family." Waldo won eight tournaments in 2025 and was the AHSAA North-South All-Star MVP and has twice been an Alabama Junior Cup team member. Clarke is currently ranked 338th in the European Golf Rankings and was the 2025 Letchworth Junior Open Champion. The Stevenage, United Kingdom native has represented the England Schools National Team, England Thames Valley Regional Girls Team, and was captain of the Hertfordshire Women's County Team. "I was quickly impressed by Tala's love and passion for golf and the art of improving her game," said Fields. She has dedicated and continues to dedicate so much effort to develop her game with discipline. Her personality and character will be an asset to our team when she joins us next Fall."
Brandon Boswell h Pharmacist/Owner h 256-524-2981 “Caring for You Like Family”
Brandon Boswell, PharmD Pharmacist/Owner
In All Things Give Thanks!
(256) 524-2981 (256) 524-2987
588 South Valley Avenue P.O. Box 498 Collinsville, AL 35961
Made with FlippingBook - Online magazine maker