Signing Day Highlights Valor Christian’s Standard of Excellence in College Athletics

On Wednesday, April 15, Valor Christian Athletics celebrated another meaningful Signing Day as 10 student-athletes officially mark the next step in their journeys, committing to continue their academic and athletic careers at the collegiate level. The ceremony, held in the Valor Christian Performance Hall, is more than a recognition of individual accomplishment. It is another chapter in a remarkable story that has become a defining hallmark of Valor Christian Athletics: sustained excellence in preparing student-athletes for success at the next level.

This spring's Signing Day class reflects both the breadth and strength of Valor's athletic department. The April 15 signees include Jenna Bell (Colorado Christian University, volleyball), Pierce Bell (Grand Canyon University, rugby), Tegan Beuhler (Saint Petersburg College, volleyball), Cole Beyer (University of Utah, rugby), Graham Broughton (University of South Dakota, football), Peter Brown (U.S. Naval Academy, gymnastics), Ellie Londo (Army West Point, track), Gio Natale (Millikin University, football), Faith Prinzo (Indiana Wesleyan University, flag football), and Wilson Ptacek (Northern Michigan University, football). Together, they represent a diverse group of sports, schools, and callings, united by a shared commitment to honor God through competition and character.

Their achievements are part of a much larger trend. Over the four-year span from 2023 through 2026, Valor Christian has seen 213 athletes commit to collegiate athletics out of roughly 850 total athletes — nearly 25% of all athletes and roughly 17% of the entire student body population. In a landscape where the national average for high school athletes who go on to play in college is around 7%, Valor's numbers are extraordinary.

"The national average for athletes that play sports in college is about 7%; for our school to have nearly 25% of athletes, roughly 17% of the entire student body population, go on to accomplish these feats is nothing short of incredible," said Tommy Vento. "We have such tremendous opportunity here, not just because of the talent pool, but because of our Coaches and Performance Team, our Academic Rigor, and our Character Building that truly set Valor Christian student-athletes apart — at this level and the next."

That success is not concentrated in only one corner of the department. More than half of Valor's collegiate commitments over that span — 57%, or 121 athletes — signed at the Division I level, while 16% went Division II, 13.7% went Division III, and 13.3% continued on at the NAIA, junior college, or club level. The largest feeder programs have included boys and girls lacrosse (43 combined commitments), football (32), and boys and girls soccer (26), with additional strong pipelines in baseball (22), basketball (18), track and cross country (17), volleyball (15), softball (7), and rugby (5). About 10% of those commitments stayed local or regional, including 21 combined commitments to schools such as Denver, Colorado State, Northern Colorado, and Colorado School of Mines.

Top collegiate destinations during that stretch have included the University of Denver, Colorado State, Northern Colorado, Colorado School of Mines, Wheaton College, Montana, Taylor University, the U.S. Naval Academy, Princeton, and Colgate. That balance — elite athletic opportunity, strong academic fit, and mission-aligned destinations — speaks to the kind of students Valor is developing.

Matt Fredrick, Director of Sports Science, sees that success as a reflection of the school's holistic approach. "The college recruiting success for our athletes is a huge testament to the work ethic, character and competitive drive of each athlete," he said. "It is also an incredible sign of the wholistic development that occurs in Valor Christian Athletics. Our athletes develop high level skill, strong, explosive bodies, and Christ-like character that college coaches desire to be a part of their program."

Lacrosse has been a particularly powerful example of that development. Combined, Valor's boys and girls lacrosse programs have been the leading source of college commitments, and 11 of Valor's 37 commitments to elite academic schools have come from boys and girls lacrosse alone. Elite academic placements across the four-year sample include schools such as Princeton, Penn, Air Force, Navy, Colgate, MIT, Duke, Harvard, Notre Dame, Army West Point, Vassar, Dartmouth, Emory, Johns Hopkins, Rice, Stanford, and UCLA. In all, 37 of the 213 athletes in the data set — 17.5% — committed to elite academic institutions or service academies.

"From our program's perspective, since taking over as head coach four years ago, we've had 32 young men commit to play college lacrosse at the next level," said boys lacrosse coach Jeremy Noble. "This is the most out of any Colorado high school in the last 4 years. What I'm most proud of isn't just that number, but what it represents… It's not just about preparing them for college lacrosse; it's about preparing them for life, and the results are showing both on and off the field."

Girls lacrosse coach Sam Geiersbach echoed that broader vision.

"As the Head Girls Lacrosse Coach, I'm incredibly proud to be part of a department that consistently develops student-athletes at a high level," Geiersbach said. "With over 25% of our athletes continuing to play at the next level (and more than half at the Division I level) it speaks to the culture, commitment, and support system we've built at Valor."

That same momentum is evident across other flagship programs. Football has continued to see strong growth in placement, with coach Mike Sanford noting the trajectory of the Eagles program and the emphasis on developing the whole person. "Our football program's intent is to develop the total individual and athlete, and create as much passion and love for the game — both at Valor and beyond — as we can," Sanford said. "We are overwhelmingly encouraged by the 50% collegiate placement of our most recent class… And, best of all, is that we feel we are just getting started." Girls soccer coach Brett O'Connor pointed to Valor's "strong tradition of excellence" and the school's commitment to developing the "whole athlete" academically, athletically, and spiritually.

The data also reflects another distinctive part of Valor's identity: the meaningful number of athletes who choose Christian colleges and universities. Fifty of the 213 athletes in the full sample — 23.5%, or nearly one in four — committed to Christian colleges. Those commitments were spread broadly across divisions and sports, led by soccer, baseball, basketball, football, volleyball, and lacrosse. Top Christian college destinations included Wheaton College, Taylor University, Palm Beach Atlantic, Azusa Pacific, Colorado Christian, Dallas Baptist, Concordia (Nebraska), Hastings, and Wartburg.

For Valor, that range of outcomes matters. As Jess Caldwell said, "Over the last twelve years, it has been so enjoyable to watch our student-athletes find a good fit for their next step in their athletic and academic journey. From highly competitive D1 schools to D3 and NAIA and also to Christian colleges, our athletes have had incredible opportunities to grow in skill and faith at the next level."

The sustained success of Valor Christian student-athletes also reflects the intentional support structure behind the scenes. Zach Wilson noted, "Through this specialized role, intentional athlete development, and our exceptional coaching staff, Valor Christian student-athletes gain a meaningful advantage as they navigate the college recruiting process and pursue opportunities at the next level." Keith Wahl also emphasized the uniqueness of Tommy Vento's role and the immediate impact he has made. "Tommy Vento is primed to excel in this unique role in service to our student-athletes moving forward. His unique background in personal executive coaching and Division I athletics will allow him to strengthen our processes in making the recruiting process for our families even better. The best is truly yet to come."

Signing Day is about more than signatures, ceremonies, or statistics. At Valor, it is the visible fruit of a culture built on excellence, discipline, faith, and formation — one that continues to equip student-athletes not only for college athletics, but for lives of purpose and impact beyond the game.

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