By Fred Solis
The Hutchinson Tribune
ANDALE—Two Andale High School athletes signed to continue their sports careers at the collegiate level in special ceremonies at Andale last week.
Senior Hayden Grimes will play volleyball at Colorado State University, and senior Jack Cutler will compete in track and cross country at Emporia State University.
Grimes, a four-year varsity player, helped the Indians capture the 4A state volleyball championship earlier this month at Hutchinson. In addition to being named the Kansas Volleyball Association’s Player of the Year, Grimes was selected for the All-State First Team alongside junior teammate Abby McNeal.
Junior Reagan Winter was named to the All-State Second Team, and Andale Coach Scott Johnson was named Coach of the Year.
During Grimes’ high school career, she tallied 1,123 kills with a .254 hitting percentage, 94 blocks, 1,227 digs and 1,498 serve receptions.
“I would define her as the ultimate competitor,” Johnson said. “The kid just wants to win. She makes her teammates want to win. She makes everyone around her better.”
For Grimes, going to Colorado State is a chance to follow in the footsteps of her sister Payton Caffrey, who played volleyball at West Virginia and Florida State, and the fulfillment of a childhood dream to play at Colorado State.
“Ever since I was young, it was something I wanted to accomplish because of my older sister,” Grimes said.
She added, “I wanted to go there (Colorado State) since I was a little kid, so to go there is something special.”
Cutler is also a four-year athlete, running on Andale’s cross country and track teams. He lettered in both sports all four years. Cutler also qualified for state in cross country throughout his high school career. This year, he finished ninth at state individually and helped the team capture second place in 4A.
In track, Cutler qualified for the state track meet once so far in the two-mile event, in which he finished eighth. The Andale boys’ team has won the 4A state title every year that he’s been on the team.