Three more signed the dotted line to compete in college athletics on May 28.
Alyssa Hurlburt and Jake DeLong both signed to bowl for Rochester College Warriors next season and Skye Donaldson will join the Lady Warriors basketball team.
Head Coach JR Lafnear said he’s ‘excited? for Hurlburt and DeLong.
‘These are two the hardest working kids we’ve had in the last couple years and they certainly deserve everything they’re getting today,? he added. ‘I think they’ll both do well at the next level and they’re certainly committed to the game. They enjoy the game and I think that helps them a lot.?
Athletic Director Mike Watson agreed.
‘You can see the family lineage here,? he said. ‘The Hurlbert name is synonymous with bowling here and the DeLong brothers do a great job.?
Hurlburt will study accounting.
‘After hearing great things about the new bowling program at Rochester College, I chose the school because they have the major I want to study and an up-and-coming bowling program,? she said in a press release.
She is the daughter of Robert and Terri Hurlburt
DeLong has had a longtime verbal commitment with the Warriors.
‘I wanted to attend Rochester College since Coach Rick started recruiting me last year,? he said. ‘It’s a great school and we’re going to have a great team.?
Jake is the son of Matt and Amy DeLong of Oxford.
Lafnear noted that Drew Pappas has also signed to bowl with Rochester as well and there is the potential of two more signing with RC as well. Hurlburt, DeLong and Lafnear will join fellow Wildcat Sean McKinney who signed with Rochester in 2014.
Watson is also glad to see local colleges, like Rochester making moves from small college associations to bigger conferences like the NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) and being able to offer more scholarships.
‘Rochester is a very good small school and a good outlet for our kids. We’re really in hot bed for bowling, so I would expect their program to do very well, very quickly,? Watson added. ‘This is a great feeder for us because we’ve had a good bowling program with Coach Lafnear and it’s really good to see these kids have an opportunity to move onto the college ranks.?
Donaldson earned seven varsity letters in softball (four) and basketball (three). She concluded an impressive senior year under head coach Stephen Emert averaging 10 points and five rebounds/game while leading the Wildcats to an undefeated Oakland Activities Association (OAA) White league title. Donaldson poured in a career-high game of 16 points and 11 rebounds in a 79-46 victory over Bloomfield Hills H.S. At the end of her senior year she was named honorable mention all-county and co-MVP. As a junior, she was honored with the program’s Most Improved Player award.
She also starred on the softball diamond being named all-OAA White division and received all-district honors at the conclusion of her junior year. Donaldson led the Wildcats to a 26-6-1 record overall and an undefeated OAA White championship as a senior.
While at Oxford, Donaldson maintained a 4.0 GPA while being dual-enrolled at Rochester as part of Oxford’s Early College Program.
‘Skye is joining the RC women’s basketball program after an excellent career both in basketball and softball at Oxford High School. She has a good fundamental base and played in a very good high school basketball program under Coach Emert at Oxford. She is very versatile with her ability to score in the post and shoot from the perimeter,? said Rochester College Women’s Basketball Coach Eric Sims. ? Her skills fit in very well with what we do both on offense and defense. She is also an excellent student, holding a 4.0 GPA as well as taking college classes at RC in addition to her regular high school classes. Skye has a very bright future here at RC and we are anxious to see her impact on our program starting this fall,? said Coach Sims.?
Donaldson is excited for the opportunity. ‘I chose RC because the coaching staff did a great job of recruiting me. The whole family atmosphere that they create is really something I want to be a part of,? she added. ‘In addition, Rochester College takes great pride and has a tremendous tradition in women’s basketball and I would be crazy to turn down an opportunity like this.?
Skye is the daughter of Jeff and Trisha Donaldson of Oxford. She becomes the 27th Oxford senior student-athlete to take their talents to the collegiate ranks.