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Published: Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2013 / Updated: Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2013 03:46 PM

CHS athletes announce college choices

CLOVER -- 

Four Clover High School athletes announced their college choices during last week’s National Signing Day observance in the media center.

Leading the way were Samantha Prytulak and Naomi Matley of the CHS girls soccer team.

Prytulak, the daughter of Kerry and Dan Prytulak, will play college soccer next season at Winthrop University. She credits a lot of her success to being part of a winning program at CHS.

“The more I practice and play, the better my game becomes under coach Geary,” said Prytulak, a four-year varsity participant.

“We work hard to stay in condition, which has a lot to do with success on the soccer field,” she said.

Added Prytulak, who plays the forward position, “I look forward to playing soccer at Winthrop. They have great coaches.”

Matley, the daughter Ronald and Carmen Matley, is excited about her venture into the college ranks when she takes the field at Wingate next season. Matley, a midfielder, played jayvee soccer in seventh and eighth grades.

“I played club soccer all of my ninth-grade year and have played varsity soccer at CHS since then,” Matley said. “Playing college soccer has always been my goal.”

Matley agrees with teammate Prytulak that conditioning makes the difference.

“I love the sport,” she said.

CHS head girls soccer coach Kelsey Geary, whose program competes for region honors on a regular basis, lauded the Lady Blue Eagle twosome.

“I am excited that Sam and Naomi will compete at the college level,” Geary said. “They are both deserving and have contributed a lot to our program.”

CHS swimmer Garrett Hills, who owns five state championships, signed to compete at Texas Christian University.

Hills, the son of Ken and Susan Hills, holds the state record in the 100 free. He earned state championships in the 50 free, 100 free, 400 free relay, 100 fly and 200 medley.

“I became more competitive my sophomore year,” noted Hills.

A state title holder with accolades galore, Hills visited the TCU campus in November.

“I like the campus,” he said. “It is beautiful. I will train in the offseason and be ready to compete.”

CHS swim coach Joan Epping speaks in glowing terms of Clover’s record-setting swimmer.

Garrett is gifted,” she said. “He has a swimmer’s body, lean and thin. Garrett is ready for the next level. He works hours and hours and has a year-round commitment to the sport.”

CHS softball standout Madison Tepfenhardt, one of the premier catchers in the upstate, will play for Newberry College next season.

“Competing at the college level has been my goal for a long time,” said Tepfenhardt, the daughter of Ann Tepfenhardt.

The Lady Blue Eagle mainstay said she likely will be a catcher at Newberry. “I could be used as a utility player,” she said. “I can play multiple positions.”

Tepfenhardt, who began playing rec ball at the age of 10, is entering her fifth year in the CHS program. “Playing for coach Hall and being part of a successful program has prepared me for college ball,” she said.

Head coach Shea Hall, whose Lady Blue Eagle team is a regular playoff participant, offered words of praise for the senior standout.

“I am very proud of Madison for her leadership on and off the field,” said Hall. “She is an outstanding catcher, who can play other positions and hit the ball.”