Addressing a crowd of more than 300 Northwood Academy students, Upper School Principal Dr. Christi Furrow emphasized the five student-athletes in the spotlight at tables behind her with their families weren’t there because it was easy to earn some athletic money to play at the next level.
That group was committed to fulfilling their dreams of suiting up for a college team.
“If you look at each one of (the signees), it wasn’t just during the season,” Furrow told the students in the stands to apply the exclamation point on the day’s events. “They had to get up day in and day out, in and out of season and work. All that work they did in the offseason is what pays off during the regular season. If you heard all of them, they had to make sacrifices. It wasn’t like we were just going to do this, and it came easily. When you didn’t want to do it, you still did it anyway.”
Northwood’s had two signees in 2022-23. The group that inked college deals Friday, May 3, in the school’s gymnasium was Alayah Birch (Savannah State women’s basketball), Morgan Jones (Brewton-Parker women’s basketball), Ava Trowbridge (Limestone women’s soccer), Dykes Dickson (Clarks Summitt’s men’s basketball) and Hiott O’Quinn (Belmont Abbey baseball).
“We’re so proud of this group,” Northwood Academy Athletic Director Thomas King said. “They’ve been pushed by their coaches. This is an example of what we’re trying to build at Northwood Academy. We’re headed in the right direction. Hopefully, next year, it will be more.”
Birch’s signing day came with a twist. The two-sport all-state selection was not only choosing a school, she was also picking a sport. Holding a volleyball in one hand and a basketball in the other, Birch flipped the volleyball over her shoulder, signaling her plans to play basketball in the future.
Birch, bouncing back from a knee injury that cost her all of her junior year, guided the Chargers to a pair of state championship appearances in both sports as a senior.
“Alayah’s work ethic is unmatched,” King said. “She basically lives in the gym with the work she puts in. She’s a special young lady. I know she’s going to have a lot of success in the future.”
Trowbridge, O’Quinn, Dickson and Jones also earned postseason recognition, serving as cornerstones on their respective teams.
“They talked about their joy and passion for the game,” Furrow said. “I want you to use this as inspiration. I see many of you in the crowd who have aspirations to do what these few up here have done. I want you to use this as something that catapults you to go above and beyond to do what many don’t have the opportunity to do. We want to be behind you, to encourage you to be the best you can be.”
