Greenwood’s Austin, Kuhlmann sign with college programs

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Two of Greenwood’s most successful athletes bring their talents to college levels.

Grace Austin signed with the Virginia Tech Division I diving team, and Jaedyn Kuhlmann entered the Lubbock Christian cross-country and track and field programs during a signing ceremony Monday at the Greenwood Library.

Kuhlmann and Austin both stormed onto the stage as newbies in Greenwood as the cross-country runner won the girls’ singles title in District 5-4A in 2018, while the diver took home a bronze medal at the 2019 UIL state meeting.

Austin is now a three year veteran of the UIL state meeting, and Kuhlmann qualified for the I-4A Region Cross-Country Championships for all four years.

Austin chose the Hokies over Missouri because she loved the Virginia Tech campus and had a good relationship with the Rio Ramirez school instructor.

“I’m really excited,” said Austin. “I think it’s one of my greatest accomplishments. I’m just looking forward to going out and having fun. “

“(The Division I level) has always been my biggest goal and I just wanted to achieve it,” added Austin.

Austin made a name for herself at high school for her one-meter performance, but her forte in the sport is the platform.

“I mostly do platform,” said Austin. “That is my favourite. I’m the best at that. “

Austin said Monday that her goal is to win the NCAAs on the platform, which her former COM Aquatics teammate Tarrin Gilliland did in Indiana last spring.

“She’s not really freaking out,” said Greenwood dive coach Traci McGinnis of Austin in competition. “She’s pretty calm, cool, and collected. Don’t talk in front of people today, but while diving. Going to Division I is really good for you. Finally getting out there and getting the competition and daily competition that it needs. I think this will probably be her best chance to really show what she can do because she is pushed every day. “

Austin was well supported by her fellow divers during her signing ceremony, as Midland High Senior and Tennessee Signee Nicholas Stone, Midland High Senior and East Carolina Signee Averi McQuitty, and Team USA Diver Sam Pickens were in attendance for the occasion.

“I think it’s really nice,” said Austin. “We can all go to large D1 schools together and all achieve our goals.”

Kuhlmann said she considered multiple schools but picked LCU because she was comfortable with the team’s runners.

“It’s just at home and I felt at home when I visited,” said Kuhlmann.

Kuhlmann said she developed a passion for competitive sports in seventh grade.

“It’s always a challenge,” says Kuhlmann of running. “It always goes up (to a race) and you never know how it will go.”

She said her parents Jennifer and Manuel instilled discipline into her so that she could reach her potential through hard work.

Kuhlmann runs daily and wakes up between 5: 30-5: 45 a.m. if she prefers to run.

Kuhlmann also takes part in the three longest races on the High School Track with the 3,200 meters, 1,600 and 800 meters.

“She works hard and she really wanted that,” said McGinnis, who coaches Kuhlmann in cross-country. “That’s one of the things she worked for. She knew what she wanted to do, she just didn’t know exactly where. I really feel that Lubbock Christian is a good match for her. It’s closer to home, but not home. She has the potential. I’m curious to see how far she can go with it. “

Kuhlmann is planning the educational sciences course with the long-term goal of teaching and coaching.

Austin will major in health, nutrition, nutrition, and exercise.

Follow Christopher on Twitter: @chris_MRTsports

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