Jones, Shepherd detail college plans

Daily Globe Sports Editor

Shelby’s Nicole Jones and Marshall Shepherd finalized their college plans that will include athletics at the next level.

The seniors signed letters of intent to attend and further their educations and athletic careers at Division II institutions in Ohio Monday afternoon in the SHS gymnasium with family and friends present.

Jones, who played in four state golf tournaments and finished as the medalist runner-up at this year’s Division II State tournament, completed paperwork to attend the University of Findlay.

Shepherd, coming off a stellar football season that saw him throw for better than 4,200 yards, opted to stay with his first love — baseball — and commit to Walsh University.

When asked if playing beyond high school was a goal for Jones, she replied “yes, collegiate level golf has always been my dream.”

After quarterbacking the Whippets to a 17-4 record the last two seasons, Shepherd said he weighed in on possibly play football, but said baseball ultimately won out.

“Football crossed my mind. I thought about it for a little bit, but I just love baseball so much and finally decided I’d stick with baseball,” said Shepherd.

Jones was a fouryear letter winner in golf at Shelby.

Lacking numbers for a girls team team during her junior and senior seasons, she was a key contributor on the boys team and earned All-mid Ohio Athletic Conference honors. During her first two high school seasons she was a firstteam all-conference selection when the red and gray won back-toback MOAC girls golf titles. In 2019, she was the conference player of the year.

Shepherd, who will be bidding for his fourth varsity letter in baseball during the spring of 2022, led the Whippets to a share of the MOAC championship and was the league’s player of the year as a junior.

A year ago, Shepherd forged a 6-1 record on the mound with an earned run average of 1.73. Over 48.1 innings, he scattered 36 hits with 70 strikeouts. He batted .447 with a team-best 36 runs batted in.

Shepherd’s junior year at Shelby was memorable as he started on league championship teams in football, basketball and baseball.

Shepherd said the decision making process was long and difficult with interest from other schools and noted he was glad to finally sign and get it over with.

“At the end of the day, Walsh felt at home. I liked the baseball coach and he was really nice. Their field is beautiful and the campus is super nice itself,” said Shepherd, who is looking to major in business.

When talking about Findlay, Jones said “I liked the coaches, the team and just the school overall.”

Jones plans to major in nursing.

CHUCK RIDENOUR/SDG Newspapers Marshall Shepherd, second from left, finalized his college plans to attend Walsh University where he will also play baseball. Joining him for the day were his parents — Ron and Heather Shepherd — twin brother Luke, right, and younger brother Michael, standing.

CHUCK RIDENOUR/SDG Newspapers Nicole Jones, middle, announced her plans to attend the University of Findlay to further her education and play golf. Sharing the day with her were parents Ken and Shannan Jones.