Next year there are eight Akins athletes who will be advancing to the next level as they play sports at colleges and universities.

Girls varsity basketball player Shae Routt signed to play for the University of Texas in Austin on April 27. It was a special moment for Shae who will be following in the footsteps of her mother Erica Routt, who also played for UT when she went to college.

Signing with UT is definitely one of my top favorite moments,” Routt said. “I’ve worked out and did different drills with my mom just to get to this point. Now it’s time to go to the next level.”

Senior Isaiah Davilla received an offer from Hiram College in Ohio. He signed his letter of intent on April 17.

“I was so ready to sign because I felt like it was one step closer to living my dream of playing college football and hopefully take it further,” Davilla said

Other graduating seniors who signed to compete in college sports are Cassius Serff-Roberts for cross-country, Rudy Reyna for baseball, Brittney Roberts for volleyball, Rebecca Duran and Ivelisse Moreno for softball, and Denae Lofton for basketball.