Madison Stewart officially signed a letter of intent on Thursday. The ceremony took place in the school’s auditorium as Stewart joined six other previously announced student-athletes who will continue their careers at the next level.
Stewart signed her national letter of intent to continue her academic and athletic career at Emory and Henry College. Stewart has played lacrosse for nine years and has been a varsity starter for Blacksburg High School lacrosse since her freshman year. She has participated in travel lacrosse since her sophomore year with Valley Select and 460 Lacrosse.
Stewart has served in a leadership position on every team, being a captain for Blacksburg Lacrosse since her Junior year and was first team all-district her sophomore year as well as an All-Region honorable mention both her sophomore and junior year. She has served the community by supporting future lacrosse players in the New River Valley by coaching at multiple NRVLC Rattlers Lacrosse Camps and intends to study Health Science at Emory and Henry.
Reese Bradbury, a senior cross country and track athlete, signed her national letter of intent to continue her academic and athletic career at High Point University. She has run competitively for five years, the last three at Blacksburg High School. Bradbury’s all state performances led her team to a Class 4 state title in cross country and runner up finish in indoor track in the 2022-2023 school year.
During her time at Blacksburg, she has achieved seven individual All-State performances in addition to three All-State finishes, including one state championship. Bradbury has been around running her entire life and cannot wait to continue to run in college. At High Point, she plans to study psychology to become a sports psychologist.
Kallan Malabad, a senior soccer player, signed her national letter of intent to continue her academic and athletic career at Saint Michael’s College. Malabad has been on the varsity soccer team since 9th grade. She helped the Bruins win the region championship in 2021 and 2022 as well as the district championship in 2021, 2022, and 2023. Malabad also helped the team get to the state semifinals her Freshman year and the state quarterfinals her sophomore and junior year.
She received all district honorable mention in 2022 and all district 1st team in 2023, is also captain of her club soccer team, Virginia United FC, and was selected First team all ECNL RL Virginia in 2023. In addition, Kallan is a three-year letter recipient in Track. Malabad plans to study Digital Media & Communications at Saint Michael’s College.
Katey Mathena signed a National Letter of Intent to continue her academic and athletic career as an Eagle at Carson-Newman University in Jefferson City, Tennessee. She has been a starter on the varsity softball team since ninth grade. Her primary position is catching but she also plays middle infield and outfield. Mathena helped the Bruins make it to the Region Semi-finals in her sophomore and junior years. She also helped the Bruins clinch the District Championship in her junior year and made First-Team All-District in both her sophomore and junior years and Second-Team All-Region her sophomore year. She has played softball for 12 years and is a member of the Virginia Scrappers travel softball organization. Mathena is looking forward to studying Graphic Design with a Marketing minor at Carson-Newman University while having the opportunity to continue playing the sport she loves.
Lindsey Polan is headed to the University of Virginia’s College at Wise. She has been on Blacksburg’s Varsity team for three years, helping them win the District Championship in 2023, where she hit a homerun in each of the three playoff games.
She also helped them advance to Region Quarterfinals in 2022, and 2023 and has played softball since 2019. When her schedule allows, Polan helps coach a 10u Five Star Mafia team because she enjoys giving back to the younger generation. She plays for Virginia Phoenix 18u- Wood. Lindsey plans to study Elementary Education at UVA Wise.
Lorelei Spradlin is off to Carson Newman University. She has been on Blacksburg’s Varsity team for four years, helping them win the District Championship in 2023, and helping them advance to Region Quarterfinals in 2022, and 2023. She received first-team all-district pitcher and second-team all-region pitcher in her sophomore and junior years.
Spradlin has been on the diamond for as long as she can remember and has played travel softball for eight years and currently enjoys her time with the Virginia Scrappers Showcase team. Spradlin plans to study Exercise Science at Carson Newman University.
Hayli Williams, a senior lacrosse player, will sign her national letter of intent to continue her academic and athletic career at Longwood University. She is a 3-year letter winner in Girls Lacrosse and plays attack and takes the draw.
Williams was team captain and MVP in 2023 and led the Bruins in scoring with 100 career goals over two seasons, earning First Team All-Region honors as a sophomore and junior. She has been playing lacrosse for 13 years and has been a part of the Valley Select travel team and plans to study Kinesiology at Longwood.
Staff report
