It’s become an annual tradition at Waynesboro Area Senior High School.
Before the hectic days leading to graduation, seniors converge to take part in a ceremonial college signing.
Below are the student-athletes who took part in the signing ceremony and are looking ahead to new challenges and accomplishments:
Eve Phillips, a highly-accomplished swimmer at Waynesboro Area Senior High School, will continue her swimming career at Mount St. Mary’s University where she will major in date science.
“I’m looking forward to have the opportunity to swim at the collegiate level, which has been a dream of mine since I was very young,” said Phillips. “
Phillips won the District 3-3A 50 and 100 freestyle events as a senior. She went on to place third in the 100 freestyle and fourth in the 50 freestyle at the PIAA Championships.
Phillips qualified for states all four years at WASHS.
She also placed fifth in the 50 freestyle at the YMCA National Championships as a senior.
Jaeda Dockman is on her way to PennWest California (California University of Pennsylvania), where she will major in biology, Pre-med and compete on the track and field team.
Dockman, the 2025 District 3-3A high jump champion, is a four-year varsity letterwinner in track and field and a four-year Mid-Penn Conference Championship qualifier. Academically, Dockman was a member of the National Honor Society with four years of High Honor Roll with Distinction.
“I’m excited to specialize and study the subject I am most passionate about,” she said. “I am also grateful for the opportunity to play and compete in the sport I love during this journey.”
Jayden Rooney, who became Waynesboro’s winningest wrestler in school history (119 wins), plans to major in intermediate education and wrestle at Messiah University.
“I am most looking forward to having another opportunity to chase my goals at the next level. I had a dominant high school career but came up short of my goal of becoming a state qualifier,” Rooney said. “I am also excited to push myself academically to set myself up for my future career, meeting new people and making more friends.”
Rooney was a four-year PIAA Regional qualifier, a Section IV runner up and three-time sectional third-place finisher. Academically, Rooney earned Honors with Distinction and was a four-year wrestling GPA award winner.
Tyler Fortney will attend Mount St. Mary’s University. He will major in business administration and play golf.
Fortney was a four-time Mid-Penn Conference and District 3 qualifier. During his junior and senior seasons, he was in the top five in the conference in scoring average.
Calvin Myers will major in Pre-K education and wrestle at Albright College.
He said he is “looking forward to the challenge that college will bring” and “graduate with a college degree, qualify for the NCAA tournament and become an All-American.”
Myers was a four-year varsity letterwinner at WASHS in wrestling and lettered in football and baseball for three years. Myers was a National Honors Society member and earned Honor Roll with Distinction.
Eric Jacobs plans to play soccer in college. He earned Mid-Penn Conference Honorable Mention for soccer and was on the Honor Roll each year at Waynesboro Area Senior High School.
“I want to gain more knowledge and experience playing at a higher level,” Jacobs said.
Nikki Davis will continue her athletic career at Messiah University, where she will major in elementary education and play soccer.
“I am looking forward to continuing to improve as a soccer player and to earn my degree in elementary education,” Davis said.
Davis earned Mid-Penn Conference Colonial Division Player of the Year and All-State Honorable Mention.
Davis earned Honor Roll with Distinction all four years, was a member of the National Honor Society and was ranked first in her class.
Genesis Alvarez will attend Allegheny College of Maryland. She will major in multi media technology and social media marketing and play basketball.
“I’m excited about getting to meet new people and play at the next level,” Alvarez said.
Allison Kuhar will be attending Bridgewater College and major in communications and play lacrosse.
“I am looking forward to meeting new people and to playing at the next level,” said Kuhar, who earned Honors with Distinction in all marking periods in high school.
“I am looking forward to growing as an athlete while playing the sport that I love. I’m excited to build strong friendships on the field and around school while getting to study what I am passionate about and preparing for my future.”
Delaney Stains will major in sports management and swim at Lock Haven University.
Stains was a three-sport athlete, including as a team captain on the girls’ swim team.
Alex Torbica will attend Albright College and play football and basketball.
Torbica lettered in both sports at WASHS for three years. He also earned high honors all four years and made all-conference teams in football and basketball during his junior and senior seasons.
“I want to pursue my goals of pre-med and become a sports medicine physician for a professional sports team and to move higher up in life with sports,” Torbica said.
Ethan Hotchkiss will attend York College of Pennsylvania and major in mechanical engineering and play baseball.
“I am looking forward to competing at a higher level and being presented with newer challenges,” said Hotchkiss, who earned distinguished honor roll honors and was ranked 14th in his class.
Brett Powell will major in biology and play baseball at Allegheny College. Powell had the top GPA on the baseball team his sophomore and junior seasons and had the top male GPA in the class of 2025 as a junior.
“I am most looking forward to fulfilling my childhood dream of playing baseball at the next level,” Powell said.
Gunner Shifflett will attend Hagerstown Community College. He will major in environmental studies and play baseball.
Shifflett, a two-year letterwinner in football and baseball, said “I am most looking forward to seeing myself in the future and to have my major completed and still playing baseball at another school.”
Addie Shaull will major in elementary education and play basketball at Hagerstown Community College.
A four-year letterwinner at WASHS in basketball and soccer, she also achieved high academic honors all four years.
Said Shaull, “I am excited to continue my basketball career and to see where it takes e to build new friendships. I want to graduate from HCC and continue playing basketball at a four-year school, get my masters degree and start teaching little kids.”
Alexis Thompson will attend Penn State Mont Alto and major in psychology and play softball.
“I am most looking forward to being a part of a team of girls who really want to strive to do great in school and in softball,” she said. “I am looking forward to the bonds I will make with the team.”
Angie Ayala-Luna will attend Hagerstown Community College, where she will major in exercise science and play soccer.
Ayala-Luna looks forward to meeting new friends and new coaches, playing soccer and working towards becoming an athletic trainer.
Justin Bonner will attend Saint Mary’s College of Maryland. He will major in marine science and play be on the swim team.
Bonner qualified for the Mid=Penn Conference championships and District 3 championships all for years at WASHS.
“I’m looking forward to a new experience in swimming and making new friends,” Bonner said.
Owen Shockey will attend Mount St. Mary’s University. He will major in business and compete in track and field.
A three-sport athlete, Shockey also competed in swimming and football.
“I want to continue to better myself and compete against athletes of the highest caliber with coaches that are the best in their field,” he said. “I want to grasp a better understanding of the business world and hopefully have plans to start my own.”
In addition to being on the honor roll in high school, Shockey qualified for the Mid-Penns in swimming and track and field, qualified for the District 3 championships in swimming and was named to the Second Team all-conference at linebacker.
Ben Williams will attend Point Park University. He will major in business management and compete in track and field.
Williams said his goal is to “excel in track while learning how to start a business and landing a good job out of college.”
Williams, who excelled as a thrower (shot put, javelin, and discus) for the Indians, was a three-time District 3 finalist. Academically, Williams was a member of the National Honor Society and the distinguished honor roll (four years).
