Okoro, Cruz and Servis sign letter of intents during early signing period
By: John Zetmeir
Three Dodge City High School student athletes signed letters of intent on Wednesday to join NCAA Div. II universities.
Seniors Marcelo Cruz and Chia Okoro will both continuing running in college. Cruz, who signed with Fort Hays State University, finished 4th individually at the 6A state cross country meet back in October.
Last spring, Cruz finished 8th at the 6A state track and field meet in the 3200 meter run and was part of Dodge City’s 4×800 relay team that placed 4th. “It feels great,” Cruz said. “I’ve been training really hard and everything that I’ve done has come to an end and this is it.”
Okoro was an important member of last season’s Dodge City girls track and field team that placed 5th out of 29 teams at the 6A state meet.As a junior, Okoro medaled in the girls 400 meter dash and the 4x400meterrelay.
She will join the track and field team at Washburn University in Topeka, joining former Red Demon Jasmine Duarte who was also part of the 4×400 meter relay team.
“They have a really good track program,” Okoro said. “It’s brand new and all of the coaches are really good and know what they are doing. I know that I’m going to a good program.”
Dylan Servis signed with Western State Colorado University where he will wrestle. Dodge City head coach Lars Lueders was also a member of the Western State Colorado University wrestling team during his collegiate career.
Servis, who missed his entire junior season due to an injury, will return to the mats this winter for the Red Demons. As a sophomore, Servis placed 3rd at the 6A state tournament. He is also a two-time Fargo All-American.
With his college decision out of the way, Servis says that now he will have one less thing on his mind during wrestling season.
“A lot of people told me that trying to sign during the season or talking to schools in season was really stressful, trying to figure out what to do,” Servis said. “So my goal was to sign before the season started so that I can just enjoy it and be a senior.”
