ORANGE PARK – Ridgeview High sports has added a bit of a step in their strutting these past few years with a young athletic director, some new coaches and a crop of athletes that like to make a lot of noise on their field of play.

“What’s important to remember is that these athletes and all athletes that play in college have to make the grades in the classroom to get to this point,” said Ridgeview Athletic Director John Sgromolo. “We have an administration here that appreciates the combination of athletics and academics.”

Three notable athletes that signed to continue their playing careers at the college level; volleyball crusher Saige Rivers, softball velcro-glove Hannah Foster and soccer speed-setter Alyvia Goodwin all joined a handful of friends and family to get the early jump on the usual February National Signing Day festivities.

For volleyball, Rivers will head to NCAA Division I Grambling State University in Louisiana as the first Division I level volleyball players to play at Ridgeview High School.

Rivers, coached by Destiny Brightman, has been part of a string of four district volleyball titles at Ridgeview. Rivers is a left-handed hitter and blocker for Brightman.

“I met Saige as a youngster and saw that she was a big left-handed hitter that a lot of coaches wanted at their high school,” said Brightman. “Unfortunately, she left for Japan for her first two years of high school. She came back as a junior and has been huge asset to the program.”

For Foster, going to Lees-McRae College (NCAA Div. II) in Banner Elk, North Carolina, the ceremony was a tad emotional as Foster becomes the first of departed coach Roger Harvey’s crew of movers and shakers on the area softball scene that excitedly earned a first district softball title for Ridgeview two years ago. Harvey unexpectedly passed away just prior to the start of the 2017 season.

“All I know is that there is a certain handle-bar moustached guy up there smiling down on this day,” said Ridgeview first-year head coach Casey Thompson, referring to Harvey. “Hannah is the kind of player and teammate any coach would want.”

From the soccer team, coached by Trevor Clark, Goodwin has been a three year starter at midfield and will go to Trinity Baptist College in Jacksonville.

Trinity Baptist plays in the National Christian Collegiate Athletic Conference.