On Wednesday, a total of four Buchholz athletes signed their National Letter of Intent to continue playing at the next level.

They’re all headed to Division-I programs, including three baseball players who have started in some capacity since their freshmen year.

“It’s awesome,” said Buchholz baseball coach Ron Brooks, who is also the school’s Athletics Director. “We’ve got great kids, quality kids that are fun to coach and really good baseball players. We played really tough competition and I think that helps them a lot, and they play high level travel ball, so I think all of that combined is the secret to their success and they’ve earned the right to play college baseball.”

All three are “strong academic kids.”

Bobcats’ pitcher Anthony Wilkie signed with Clemson University.

“He takes the ball and gets after it,” Brooks said. “He’s definitely going to be a pitcher at the next level and has the stuff to pitch Division-I baseball.”

Wilkie was an All Area selection in 2023 after leading Buchholz on the mound with a 6-1 record, a 1.20 ERA, and 64 strikeouts and only 12 walks in 46 innings pitched.

Clemson, which was runner-up to Wake Forest in the ACC’s Atlantic Division, finished 44-19 last year and hosted a regional.

“It’s just a great institute both academically and athletically,” Wilkie said. “I really love the coaching staff up there and I think it’s a great place where I can go to win a national title, so that’s a goal, but also to develop myself as a person as well as a student-athlete.”

The Bobcats just missed a final four opportunity last year, losing a heartbreaker to Winter Springs in the Class 6A-Region 1 Final.

“We’re all really close and I think we’ve got a great shot at it (final four in 2024),” Wilkie said. “If we stay together and stay true to who we are, I think we’re going to have a really good year.”

Shortstop Cooper Collins signed with Davidson College, which finished second in the Atlantic-10 Conference last season.

In 2023, Collins batted .284 for Buchholz with 23 hits, seven doubles, a triple and a home run. He finished second on the team with 24 runs scored.

“It’s been a dream since I started playing,” Collins said. “When I started it wasn’t really realistic but I put in the work and made it happen. It’s really special to have this come together and be out here with Wilkie. I’ve been playing with him since I was seven years old.”

Collins, who led the 21-7 Bobcats with 15 stolen bases, finished with a .923 fielding percentage.

“He’s given great effort for four years, played hard, done well in the classroom, done well on the baseball field, and it’s turned out for him to be a Division-I baseball player,” Brooks said of last year’s honorable mention All Area selection.

Catcher Noah Hayse signed with the University of Central Florida.

“It’s been a long time coming, I’ve been committed to them since my freshman year, so I’m super excited,” he said. “I like the direction the program is going. I like the location. I just feel like they’re on an upward trend. They just joined the Big 12.”

Last year, Hayse was also recognized as honorable mention All Area after batting .312. He led the team with 11 doubles and was second on the team with 20 RBI.

“Strong leadership behind the plate,” Brooks said. “He gave his best every day and offensively was a big lift for us, and defensively, so he’s done it all for us.”

This weekend, Buchholz girls golfer Bradyn Smith will be competing at the FHSAA Class 3A state championships at Mission Inn Resort & Club (Howey-in-the-Hills).

She joined the baseball trio by signing her NLI with the University of North Florida in Jacksonville.

“I have an amazing opportunity to continue my golf and academic career at an amazing school and I’m just really grateful for this opportunity,” Smith said. “I’m ready.”

Last year, Smith was Class 3A state runner-up and the senior has a chance to win a state title in her final season with the Bobcats.

“I’m hoping to win,” she said. “I think I have a really good chance. My golf game has been really good this season and I’m ready to end my senior season with a bang.”

The senior fired a 66 (6 under par) to win a district title and she finished third at regionals by shooting a 68 (4 under par).

“It’s been a dream of hers and it’s exciting from our standpoint because we’ve had one other girl go there (UNF) and play golf (Mindy Herrick), so just to see them play at the next level is exciting,” said Buchholz golf coach Marc Ellard.

Ellard said Smith’s work ethic and dedication are what sets her apart.

“She puts in the work, every weekend, after school she’s out practicing, trying to perfect every little thing,” he said. “Her drive and determination are some of the key factors that really kind of put her where she is. She’s playing really well and we’ve had a little time off between our last two rounds so I’m hoping she can put it all together for two more rounds and finish strong.”