Twelve seniors at Pope John Paul II Preparatory School recently signed letters of intent to play sports in college during a signing ceremony at the school.
The students include:
Robert Carroll, who has signed to play baseball at Hanover College.
Carroll has started for Pope Prep since his freshman year primarily as an infielder. He also has played outfield and has pitched.
Hanover, located in Hanover, Indiana, is a NCAA Division III school that competes in the Heartland Conference.
Carroll is the son of Margaret and Gordon Carroll. He attended Sumner Academy before Pope Prep.
Kyler Oathout, who has signed to play baseball for Hendrix College.
Oathout has been the Knights’ starting second baseman since his sophomore year and filled in at shortstop last year when the starter went down with an injury. He is also a pitcher.
Hendrix, located in Conway, Arkansas, is a NCAA Division III school that competes in the Southern Athletic Association.
Oathout is the son of Jennifer and Jeff Oathout. He attended T.W. Hunter Middle School before Pope Prep.
Sam Jackson, who has signed to play baseball for Oklahoma Wesleyan University.
Jackson won the starting job at shortstop for the Knights as a sophomore but battled through an arm injury as a junior.
Oklahoma Wesleyan, located in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, is a NAIA school that competes in the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference. Oklahoma Wesleyan was ninth in the preseason rankings for NAIA baseball this year.
Jackson is the son of Amy and Chris Jackson. He attended Knox Doss Middle School before Pope Prep.
Logan Penhollow, who has signed to play football at Indiana Wesleyan University.
Penhollow was a team captain and three-year starter for the Knights football team on the offensive and defensive lines. He was named to the 2021 DII-AAA All-Region team and as Sumner County’s Lineman of the Year. He played in the Tennessee Athletic Coaches Association East-West All-Star Classic, being recognized as one of the state’s finest linemen.
Indiana Wesleyan University, located in Marion, Indiana, is a NAIA school that competes in the Mid-States Football Association.
Penhollow is the son of Terah and Jonathan Penhollow. He attended Station Camp Middle School before Pope Prep.
Cole Shaver, who has signed to play football for Rhodes College.
Shaver, an outside linebacker for the Knights, was named a 2020 All-Region selection, an All-County selection several years in a row, and 2021 football scholar-athlete award winner at Pope Prep.
Rhodes College, located in Memphis, Tennessee, is a NCAA Division III college that competes in the Southern Athletic Association.
Shaver is the son of Kim and Lane Shaver. He graduated from St. Joseph School before attending Pope Prep.
Andrew Southard, who has signed to play football for the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga.
Southard was a four-year starter as the kicker for the Knights, kicking several game-winning field goals as time expired for Pope Prep during his career, including wins over Montgomery Bell Academy, Knoxville Catholic and Brentwood Academy.
Southard was a 2021 All-State selection at kicker, Sumner County Kicker-of-the-year, a two-time All-Region selection in DII-AAA, and a Tennessee Titans Mr. Football Kicker of the Year semifinalist.
UT-Chattanooga, located in Chattanooga, Tennessee, is a NCAA Division I Football Championship Series program that competes in the Southern Conference.
Southard is the son of Kelley and Steve Southard. He attended Ellis Middle School before Pope Prep.
Jenna Gillis, who has signed to play lacrosse at Davenport University.
Gillis, a starting attacker since her freshman year at Pope Prep, is the school’s first college commit in lacrosse since 2018.
Davenport University, located in Grand Rapids, Michigan, is a NCAA Division II program that competes in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.
Gillis is the daughter of Amy and Matthew Gillis. She attended Ellis Middle School before Pope Prep.
Katie Whiting, who has signed to play soccer for Trevecca Nazarene University.
Whiting was a captain of Pope Prep’s women’s soccer team as a senior and was a four-year starter, contributing on more than 70 goals during her high school career.
Trevecca Nazarene, located in Nashville, is a NCAA Division II program competing as a member of the Great Midwest Athletic Conference.
Whiting is the daughter of Wanda and Wayne Whiting. She attended Sumner Academy before Pope Prep.
Katelyn O’Neill, who has signed to play soccer for Southern Wesleyan University.
O’Neill is a four-year varsity starter for the women’s soccer team at Pope Prep, converting from a field player to goalie in her sophomore year. In her three years in that position, she had just over 20 shutouts.
O’Neill also has been a starter for Pope Prep’s women’s basketball team.
Southern Wesleyan University, located in Central, South Carolina, is a NCAA Division II program competing in the Conference Carolinas.
O’Neill is the daughter of Jennifer and Mike O’Neill. She attended T.W. Hunter Middle School before Pope Prep.
Ellie Hemmelgarn, who signed to run track for Trevecca Nazarene University.
Hemmelgarn is a four-year varsity member of the Pope Prep cross country and track teams. She has been named to the All Midstate and All Sumner County in cross country. In track, she set the school record in the 800-meter race.
Trevecca Nazarene, located in Nashville, is a NCAA Division II program competing as a member of the Great Midwest Athletic Conference.
Hemmelgarn is the daughter of Lori and Mike Hemmelgarn. She attended St. Joseph School before Pope Prep.
Kate Hobbs, who signed to play volleyball at Tennessee Wesleyan University.
Hobbs was a three-year varsity starter for the Pope Prep volleyball team and a three-time Hustle Award winner. She led the team in digs for two consecutive years and recorded almost 800 digs for her career.
Tennessee Wesleyan University, located in Athens, Tennessee, is a NAIA program competing in the Appalachian Athletic Conference.
Hobbs is the daughter of Kendra and David Hobbs. She attended Goodpasture before Pope Prep.
Callie Goodwin, who signed to play volleyball at Asbury University.
Goodwin has been a four-year starter for the Pope Prep volleyball team, was the team most valuable player as a freshman, and the recipient of the Lady Knights Award, voted on by her teammates, the last three years. She recorded more than 500 career kills. Goodwin has a 4.0 grade point average and is a member of the Pope Prep track team.
Asbury University, located in Wilmore, Kentucky, is a NCAA Division III program.
Goodwin is the daughter of Laura and Darrell Goodwin. She attended Holy Rosary Academy before Pope Prep.
