Five Raiders signed Division I athletic scholarships at the first, joint Fall Signing ceremony on Tuesday, November 15. All Upper School students came together to see these scholar athletes sign National Letters of Intent for volleyball and baseball.
Congratulations Lainey Aenchbacher (volleyball, Southern Mississippi University), Landon Jones (volleyball, Georgia Southern University), Emilee Wissmach (volleyball, Mercer University), Zack Brockman (baseball, Liberty University), and Ben Jackson (baseball, University of East Tennessee).
Lainey Aenchbacher will continue her volleyball career at the University of Southern Mississippi. Lainey has played volleyball for seven years and has committed much of her life playing with Club Savannah and for the Raiders. This commitment and hard work has earned Lainey a full athletic scholarship to play for the Golden Eagles. Some of Lainey’s most memorable accomplishments were finishing 11th in Nation in the open division with her 16s Club team. Lainey has made the All-Area 1st team and the GVCA All State her junior and senior years. In 2015, she was named to the AVCA Phenom List-Class of 2017. She was also named to the 2016 Under Armor Watch List. Lainey has been a high honor roll student throughout high school and hopes to continue that academic success while attending Southern Mississippi. Lainey would like to thank her family who has been her backbone. She appreciates the support and encouragement they have given her all these years. She thanks them for their endless support, love, and pep talks. Lainey would like to say thank you to the parents of her teammates. You have been there to offer to get things, cheer, and to share your daughters. Lainey thanks her coaches who have pushed her to be the best she can be. Finally, she says, “thank you to my teammates! You are the best! I will miss you all so much next season! On and off the court, I will cherish the time we have spent together.”
Landon Jones will continue her volleyball career a little closer to home at Georgia Southern University. Landon started her volleyball career as a young child with her mom taking her to her first tournament at the age of 9. She has played ever since for the Raiders and Club Savannah. Landon’s commitment has earned her a full athletic scholarship to play for the Eagles. Landon’s most memorable accomplishment was placing 5th in the Nation with her 13s team while playing with many of her closest friends. In Landon’s high school career she has made the Greater Savannah 1st team for 3 years while being named Player of the year her Sophomore and Co Player of the year her Jr year along with her cousin Hannah. Landon has been on the GVCA All-State 1st team since her sophomore year and was just recently named Class A All State –Co-Player of the Year. Landon has been a high honor roll student throughout high school and plans to pursue a career in nursing. Landon would like to thank both of her parents for all the time and money they’ve spent to help her accomplish these goals and for providing emotional support when she felt like giving up. She also wishes to recognize her mom who has been there coaching her and cheering her on since she started playing the game along with her teammates who pick her up when she needs it reminding her how fun the game is. And last but not least, Nini, Papa, and the rest of the family who have always supported her in everything that she’s done.
Emilee Wissmach will continue her volleyball career at Mercer University. Emilee started her volleyball career when she was nine years old, playing with her big sister, Ellison, and Landon in their first club tournament coached by Coach Jones. Her commitment and love for the game grew from there as she continued to play for Club Savannah and the Raiders. She quickly became one of the best liberoes in the state and has been awarded a full athletic scholarship by Mercer University. Emilee’s most memorable volleyball accomplishment was placing 11th in the Nation with her club team and winning a bid to the National Sand Volleyball tournament in California.
During Emilee’s high school career she made the All-Area 1st team since her sophomore year and was recently named Area 3-A Player of the Year. Emilee has also been on the GVCA Class A All-State 1st team for 3 years. Throughout school Emilee has maintained High Honor Roll and received many academic honors. She has been nominated by Mercer as a Presidential scholar, Stamp scholar, and GAP student. She will major in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.
Emilee would like to first give thanks to God for her abilities and talents He has allowed her. She also would like to thank Coach Jones for the early foundation starting at nine years old and the grass tournaments with her and Landon. She would like to thank Matt Lineberger for his investment in her volleyball and having the insight to move Emilee into the libero position, to train her, and to bring out the best in her. A huge thank you goes to her Dad who tirelessly worked on her recruitment. In closing a huge thank you goes to her parents, grandparents and all of her friends, teammates and coaches for the love and support.
Zack Brockman will continue his baseball career at Liberty University. Zack started his baseball career at age seven, playing travel ball for the Chain Dirt Dawgs, who were started and coached by his dad winning numerous local and national tournaments. Zack’s most memorable accomplishment was winning two Perfect game National Championships. At 14 Zack’s Chain team won the Freshmen World Championship. Zack was the winning pitcher and got to pitch in Jet Blue Stadium, the home of his favorite team, the Boston Red Sox. At 16 years of age, Zack’s Chain team won the Perfect Game 16 and under National Championship. Zack had an outstanding tournament and was named pitching MVP. He has been a four year starter for SCPS and been named All-Region and All-City for three straight years. Last season Zack was named All-State and was Region 3-A Pitcher of the Year. He was selected to play for Team Georgia last summer in Oklahoma.
Zack would like to thank his mom who has supported him from the beginning and has become his biggest fan. He would also like to thank all his great coaches over the years. Coach Atron of the Dirt Dawgs, Coach Carter of the Raiders, and Coach Andy with Chain who helped him get his scholarship. Zack would also to thank his dad that taught him not only how to play the game but how to love and respect the game.
Ben Jackson will continue his career in baseball at the University of East Tennessee. Ben started his baseball career playing for Coach Clark Brockman when he was seven years old. He has played ball with his teammate Zack Brockman ever since. Ben’s hard work and commitment has earned him a scholarship to play baseball at a Division I college, a goal he had set for himself when he was a kid. One of Ben’s most memorable accomplishments was winning the BCS National championship on the #1 ranked team in the U.S. Ben has participated in three sports throughout high school. Ben is a four year letter men in baseball and made First Team All-Region his sophomore and junior year. Ben wrestled his freshman and sophomore year making First Team All-Region and placing 4th at state his sophomore year. He played football his freshman through junior year as a versatile player on both offense and defense. He plans on majoring in criminal justice in college. Ben would like to thank his mother for sacrificing so much in order to make everything possible for him. He would also like to thank Coach Brockman and Coach Waddy for helping him to become the athlete he is today. A special thanks goes to Coach Carl Carter for being an unbelievable coach and even better friend who has taught Ben so much more than just the sport of baseball.
