Louisa, Ky. — It was all smiles for three Bulldog athletes on Monday Afternoon in the Lawrence Co. High School library as family, friends, classmates and administrators watched Skylar Chapman (soccer), Robert Dalton and Brandon Richardson (basketball) sign letters of intent to continue their education and athletic careers at the University of Pikeville.
All three athletes had illustrious careers at Lawrence Co. They will leave their names etched in the record books at LCHS.Each of them helped lead the Dawgs and SoccerDawgs to a bunch of victories including district and region titles plus all three played in at least one state tournament in their respective sports.
Robert and Brandon also excelled on the football field and helped lead the Dawgs to a regional runner up finish during their senior seasons.
University of Pikeville will be getting three class individuals that will make the Lawrence Co. community proud. It has been a pleasure for the Levisa Lazer to cover all three the past years. They are great players and even better young adults.
Skylar Chapman
“… I’m really excited to get to Pikeville and start working.” I really wasn’t for sure that I wanted to play at the collegiate level until we lost our last game of the season in the regional tournament.” I knew I could always go do it if I wanted to but wasn’t sure until I played my last game and I didn’t want it to end.” Pikeville has been recruiting me since I was a Freshman and that meant a lot in the process. St. Catherines, Campbellsville, KCU, and Midway College also showed a lot of interest.” What it came down to was I wanted to play as a Freshman. I didn’t want to sit the bench”. I have met most of the team, they are so close and they are always checking up on you. It feels like family plus I wanted my family and friends to be able to come and watch me play. I don’t think I could pick a better school than UPike. It feels like home.” I have always had my dad as a Coach which has always helped me but all the Girls say Coach Gary Walford is wonderful and will do anything for you.” I would like to thank my teamates, my family and friends, also Coach Walford for giving me this opportunity to play at the Collegiate level and all my coaches throughout the years.”
Robert Dalton
“…It feels awesome going to UPike, it is a big NAIA Division 1 School. We’re going to be competing for Championships and going to get rings while I’m there.” I have always liked UPike because we play the Region tournament in the expo center, the same place UPike plays their home games plus it is close to home.” To me they play at a high level, always make the tournament and compete for titles.” Playing in Little league I always played with older kids and knew I wanted to play at a higher level but in eighth grade is when I decided I was going to make it to the next level no matter what it took.” My decision came down to Marshall, UPike and Shawnee State. I was worried more about my academics.” I am going to major in Healthcare Management. You look at people around here and I look up to Greg Kiser. Fifteen to 20 years from now I want to be CEO of a hospital.” I give God Thanks for it all because without him nothing would be possible. Also want to thank Coach Wells because without him I wouldn’t be able to continue my education and my basketball career.” I want to thank Coach York for molding me into the game he likes to play and all the coaches I have ever played for. I want to thank my mom because without her I wouldn’t be here. She has always been in my life. We weren’t rich growing up but I never missed a meal, always had shoes on my feet and a roof over my head. Also, I want to thank Greg Woods. He has meant so much to me from early on he was like a second coach and a second dad.” I don’t want to leave out Coach Cook. The first two years he took me in and adapted me to his system and made the transition alot easier.” I’m going to miss playing with my brother Timmy and one day we might do it again. Can’t thank my brother Jonathan enough for taking off work and being here.”
Brandon Richardson
“…Feels awesome seeing everybody in this library that is here to support us. It got serious for me in my Junior year of Regional Tournament because that’s when I felt I was ready to take that next step and play at the collegiate level.” Today is the day that I signed and the day I will remember the rest of my life. The Recruitment process was fun to go up to colleges and see what each school had to offer.” I visited Thomas More College up in Covington, and Transylvania, but UPike really stood out to me. Going with Robert is really going to help me and we will push each other to the limits and won’t let each other slack if we are having a bad day.” The decision to come to UPike was made last week. Me and my family sat down and made the decision.” I wanted to stay close to home so my family and friends can come watch me play.” I would like to thank my parents, Coach York, Coach Preece, Coach Skaggs, Coach Cecil, my brother Austin, my girlfriend Lakin and also want to thank Coach Cook. I will further my education by majoring in Biology and pursuing a career in Physical Therapy.”
