McGhee signed to continue her volleyball career on the collegiate level on Wednesday with the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith.
"It's really neat, looking back from middle school half of my family would not have thought I'd be where I am today," McGhee said. "It's so surreal and exciting and such a big moment to reflect on."
McGhee was one of nine student-athletes to sign at Van Buren's Clair Bates Arena on Wednesday across football, track, volleyball, tennis and golf.
"We're proud of all of our programs," Van Buren Athletic and Activities Director Drew Cone said. "We have great coaches and great athletes from top to bottom. You can't hardly leave out a sport at Van Buren that's not succeeding and doing well. With nine signees in that many sports and more to come is phenomenal. This is a great place to be and just very proud of Pointer Nation."
Four of those signing on Wednesday are also involved in multiple sports.
"That's what we try to push, we want them to be involved," Cone said. "They only get one shot at high school, and we want them to be involved in as many sports and activities as they can. Our coaches push that. To see that happen and see these kids going to the next level speaks volumes of what we're doing in Van Buren."
McGhee started out playing basketball, which was natural.
Her dad, Randy McGhee, played in the Oklahoma All-State game after his career at Pocola and signed with Arkansas Tech.
Her aunt, Stephanie McGhee, set the Oklahoma state record with 3,376 points in her career at Pocola and Howe before signing with the University of Oklahoma.
"Basketball, when it comes to contact I don't like being touched and shoved," Aubrie McGhee said. "My dad and my aunt were big basketball players, so it was kind of expected for me to play basketball."
It just wasn't meant to be, though, for her.
"Everybody was okay with me playing volleyball," McGhee said. "They were like it looks something she likes doing. In basketball, I'd cross my arms and stand away."
Volleyball was the path once she tried it.
"When I was little, I bounced back and forth with sports from basketball to gymnastics and a little bit of T-ball," Aubrie McGhee said. "Nothing really worked. I tried volleyball my freshman year and I fell in love it."
McGhee finished her volleyball career at Van Buren with a school-record 1,368 kills along with third all-time in digs with 1,034 and aces with 109.
She was the River Valley Democrat Gazette Volleyball Offensive Player of the Year.
TALEN JONES, Van Buren
Arkansas Baptist College
Jones signed on Wednesday to continue his football career at Arkansas Baptist College in Conway.
Jones was a valuable defensive back for the Pointers, recording 22 tackles with an interception.
He also was on Van Buren's 4x100 and 4x200 relay teams that set schools records.
DARREN MAYS, Van Buren
Arkansas Tech
Mays signed to continue his football career at Arkansas Tech University in Russellville.
Mays led the Pointers in tackles with 85 with a sack, two fumble recoveries, and an interception.
JADA PERRYMAN, Van Buren
Williams Baptist
Perryman will continue her volleyball on the collegiate level at Williams Baptist University.
"It's extremely neat, it's so cool to be able to advance with my athletic career," Perryman said. "I'm so happy and blessed to be given the opportunity to play in college. It's so amazing to get to play the sport that I love four more years."
Perryman set the single-season school record this past season with 459 digs.
"It's definitely been dream of mine, but two years ago I didn't think I'd be playing in college," Perryman said. "Just the past couple of years, I had to put in a lot of hard work to get where I am, I'm very happy."
She was named All-State Tournament and played in the Arkansas Volleyball Coaches Association All-Star game.
JACE PONDER, Van Buren
Southern Nazarene
Ponder will continue his football career at Southern Nazarene University in Bethany, Okla.
Ponder was described by Van Buren Coach Moe Henry as a rugged, manly man who led the Pointers with 4 sacks and was in on 77 tackles with 6 for loss.
"All glory to God, without Him nothing is possible," Ponder said. "All the hard work that I put in when nobody was watching. My sophomore year, I wasn't playing, junior getting minimum reps, I didn't even think D-2 or D-3 was even possible, but here we are."
Ponder was named Class 6A All-State this past season after playing sparingly as a junior.
"The opportunity that I was given my junior year and making the plays when I was on the field," Ponder said.
AUSTIN RIGGS, Van Buren
University of Central Arkansas
Riggs will play at the University of Central Arkansas in Conway.
Riggs, a third-generation Pointer, finished with 67 receptions for 1,023 yards and 10 touchdowns.
"It's a great experience, putting in the hard work and seeing the results from it to grown and learn from the people in my family," Riggs said. "It's amazing."
Riggs led the state in receiving for most of the first half of the season before defenses really concentrated on him especially during the 6A-West.
"We were in a very competitive conference with a lot of great athletes, bunch that's going to play at the next level as well," Riggs said. "Being able to learn from the conference that we had, there's a lot of different points of view that I've been placed in the last few years definitely a lot different this year. I'll grow from it and it be a great experience."
RYAN SAMPSON, Van Buren
Cameron University
Sampson will continue his golf career at Cameron University in Lawton, Okla.
Sampson earned consecutive All-State honors and shot a 76 at the Class 5A state golf mee... Click here to read full article
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