Scholarship Athletes Honored at Beaumont High

Eventually all the hard work was going to pay off for a student-athlete like Beaumont High’s Lindsay Ritchie.

Ritchie spent the last four years excelling in the classroom and dominating in the athletic arena and the result was a NCAA Div. 1 volleyball scholarship to Fordham University.

Ritchie took part in the school’s annual “Senior Signing Day” on Wednesday where she and seven other Beaumont student-athletes were recognized for accepting college scholarships that will enable them to continue their athletic pursuits at the collegiate level.

Joining Ritchie at the signing ceremony were Bobby Conn (Allegheny University, football), Lauren Hernandez (Vanguard University, softball), Amanda Hendey (Oklahoma City University, wrestling), Ty Hopp (University of La Verne, soccer), Deana Mendoza (Lindenwood University, soccer), Jayme Tickemyer (Sonoma State, softball) and Shane Waldron (Allegheny University, football).

“It’s real nice to see everyone here because I am friends with all of them,” Ritchie said. “To see them all going places is awesome. It’s great to know I will have friends in different places.”

The school has had 17 scholarship students the past three years.

“We believe any opportunity we get to celebrate the kids’ achievements is a phenomenal day,” Beaumont High School Athletic Director Martin Dusold said. “When you see all the hours and all the effort put in by the families is special. To see the students go on and get part of their education, if not a full education, paid for, is one of the best days in the year.”

Ritchie rewrote the record books as a thrower on the school’s track and field team. But it was her talent as a volleyball player that caught the eye of Fordham University.

“A coach saw me in a tournament and gave me their phone number and card,” Ritchie said. “It happened just like that.”

Ritchie was a scholar athlete during both sports and was a two-time All Mountain Pass League selection in volleyball.

“This is something I really had to work for,” Ritchie said. “It’s not like I started off as one of the best. I grew in every sport. It took a while but it has been worth it.”

The signing was a big day in a big week for Tickemyer and Hernandez, members of the school’s softball team that will vie for a CIF team title on Friday.

“The league title was great and obviously a CIF championship would be great too,” Beaumont softball coach Jim Tickemyer said. “But when all is said and done, sitting down in one of these (ceremonies) and watching your girls move onto college is the ultimate goal.”