West Henderson senior Tanner Bullock has signed to play football for Brevard College.
Athletic director Jeff Smith talked about what a great year it has been for West Henderson sports on Thursday morning.
The proof was seated at four separate tables in the school’s media center with a piece of paper in front of them.
Falcon football players Tanner Bullock (Brevard College) and Tristan Thomas (Carson-Newman) are both going onto the next level, while volleyball player Gracie Carrick (Winthrop) and track athlete Rylee Dean (Western Carolina) completed the signing bonanza.
West Henderson had been an afterthought in mountain football, but Bullock (linebacker/running back) and Thomas (defensive back/tight end) helped change that throughout their careers.
Thomas was a starter for three years and a first-team Citizen-Times All-WNC selection as well as a All-WNC Athletic Conference player in 2015 for the Falcons (9-4). He secured 93 tackles (70 solo) with five interceptions and four pass deflections on defense. On offense, Thomas made a team-high 23 receptions for 303 yards and a touchdown.
Bullock was a 2015 All-WNCAC selection and bolstered West Henderson’s ground attack with 214 carries for a team-high 1,325 yards and 19 touchdowns. He was voted West Henderson’s most valuable offensive player.
Last year’s wins total for the Falcons was their most since 1996. And they won a home playoff game for just the second time in 25 years.
“It’s good to know that we set a standard,” Thomas said.
“There were a lot of years where West wasn’t very competitive. I feel great about the fact that we helped change that,” Bullock added.
Here are pictures from Thursday’s signings:
West Henderson senior Gracie Carrick has signed to play college volleyball for Winthrop.
West Henderson senior Tristan Thomas has signed to play college football for Carson-Newman.
West Henderson senior Rylee Dean has signed to run college track for Western Carolina University.
After two years at Brevard, Carrick transferred to West Henderson and made a big impact on arguably WNC’s top program.
As a senior, Carrick was an All-WNCAC and Citizen-Times All-WNC middle blocker for the Falcons (25-1) in with 224 kills, 85 digs, 57 blocks, 17 aces and 11 assists.
“I’m excited about the chance to keep playing in college,” Carrick said.
“I liked the size and location (of Winthrop). It feels like a good fit for me.”
Dean will compete in the 400-meter relay and 800-meter relay at Friday’s NCHSAA 3-A track meet at Greensboro’s North Carolina A&T.
Her individual personal records are : 100-meter dash (12.97 seconds), 200-meter dash (27.64), high jump (4 feet, 6 inches) and long jump (15-5).
“I don’t think that anyone in my family has ever gone to college, so that’s an honor itself,” Dean said.
“And to get to run is just a bonus. (Thursday) was my last high school practice. We were all goofing off, but it’s really sad that it’s almost over.”
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