As members of back-to-back Class 4A state finalist girls basketball teams, Paige Littrell and Amy Weisner rarely lost.
The pair were part of Columbus North’s 28-1 state championship team as juniors and a 27-2 state runner-up squad this season. They hope those winning ways will continue at the collegiate level after both committed to Division III schools.
Littrell and Weisner were among five North seniors to participate in a signing ceremony Thursday afternoon in the school’s cafeteria. Littrell will play at DePauw, while Weisner is headed to Earlham.
“I really like the small schools, so that was a big factor,” Weisner said. “The coach was really nice, and I just think basketball-wise, it was a really good fit for me. I’ve always wanted to play after high school, and I’m just grateful that I get a chance to do that.”
Weisner plans to major in business. Littrell will enter the business program at DePauw and is considering specializing in economics or mathematics.
Littrell, who set a school record with 156 career 3-pointers, won the IHSAA Mental Attitude Award for Class 4A girls basketball. After staying with close friend Brooke Richardson on a visit, Littrell picked DePauw over Hanover and Butler.
Another IHSAA Mental Attitude Award winner (in gymnastics), Katrina May, committed earlier this week to pole vault for the track and field team at Purdue. May, who finished sixth in the state in the pole vault last season and second in this year’s state indoor meet, plans to major in engineering.
Meanwhile, Mitchell Kelley plans to major in engineering and play football at Rose-Hulman. Kelley led the Bull Dogs in tackles from his safety position and tied the school record with four fumble recoveries.
“I wanted to pursue a college degree in engineering, and Rose-Hulman is the No. 1 undergraduate engineering school in the nation,” Kelley said. “They gave me an opportunity to play football, so I thought it would be a great opportunity.”
Although she was a junior varsity runner throughout her high school career, Anna Horak’s love of running led her to continue her cross-country and track career at DePauw. She plans to major in broadcast journalism and Spanish.
“It’s definitely something that I’m doing out of passion,” Horak said, “because clearly, it’s not like D-I schools were scouting after me or anything.”
