RIPON — Carly Eastham, who will continue to be a Knight, is no stranger to Calvin College.
Her mother attended the Christian liberal arts college located in Grand Rapids, Mich., as did several of her family members. Couple that with the Calvin Knights claiming their third NCAA Division III volleyball title, the first since 2013, and Eastham’s choice was a “no-brainer,” she said.
The outside hitter for the Ripon Christian High Knights signed her National Letter of Intent to Calvin Friday at the RC softball complex. She was joined on this special day by Hannabeth Magnussen, who also inked a pact to Calvin but for the diving team, and softball player and valedictorian Katie O’Leary.
O’Leary, who helped RC to its first-ever Sac-Joaquin Section Division VII crown – the championship banner was prominently displayed during the signing event – was recruited by Brown University’s softball program. She was accepted to the Ivy League school, which doesn’t provide athletic scholarships.
“(Brown) wants me to play the infield – probably at one of the corner positions (first or third base),” said the daughter of David and Theresa O’Leary. “It doesn’t matter.
“I just want to play.”
Magnussen’s situation was unique, particularly since RC doesn’t have a diving program.
She competed in gymnastics at a high level for 10 years. The daughter of Beth and Kipp Magnussen contacted Calvin coaches to express her interest in diving.
Hannabeth Magnussen will pursue Biology and Global Studies in her studies at Calvin.
Carly Eastham, who is the daughter of Chuck and Sue Eastham, is planning to major in Business.
O’Leary is looking at Materials Engineering as her major at Brown.
RC Athletic Director Kevin Tameling explained his reason for having the signing session at the softball complex.
“We couldn’t get the gym because of (preparation for) tonight’s graduation. And we don’t have a swimming pool,” he said.
Eastham, Magnussen and O’Leary are three of the eight student athletes from the RC Class of 2017 moving on to play collegiate sports, according to Tameling.