Lorain seniors make letters of intent official

Everything’s been a little different in this season of Covid. So why would a college signing ceremony be any different?

Five Lorain High athletes “signed” their National Letters of Intent during a socially distanced event inside the high school cafeteria.

Titans’ basketball players Seth Wilson and Jamir Billings, football/basketball player Camron Thomas, girls basketball player Ashley Hisle and track athlete Julissa Williams all participated.

The players and their families were seated at six-foot long tables that were spread out along a wall in the cafeteria while onlookers sat in socially distanced chairs.

A continually disinfected microphone was passed from table to table as the athletes and their family members were given the opportunity to make a comment, thank a coach, teacher, or family member.

Traditionally, cake is served. This year, athletes were given boxed cakes to take home.

Lorain Athletic Director Bryan Koury served as the event emcee and emphasized the challenges the athletes faced participating in their particular sports

“When it came to the sport of basketball we had starts stops starts stops. It would have been very easy for the kids to quit but they continued to work extremely hard, even going long periods without being able to play games, where they were only able to practice,” Koury said.

Koury singled out Thomas for what the football player had to overcome to play at the next level.

Despite not being able to play football because Lorain City Schools school opted out of 2020 fall sports, Thomas still put the work in the weight room as well as conditioning and was able to earn athletic based financial aid so as to continue his football career at Notre Dame College. The 6-foot-5 Thomas also was a key contributor on the basketball team. He got in better shape as hoop season progressed and down the stretch made keys plays in big games He’s expected to line up as a defensive end at Notre Dame.

Wilson, 6-3, long ago announced he would be continuing his college career at West Virginia, so his signing was nothing more than ceremonial.

But it gave both Wilson and his father, Donovan, an opportunity to thank those who helped the younger Wilson to earn an athletic scholarship.

“I’d like to thank the community, all his coaches and trainers that played such a big factor in bringing him up and molding him. I’d like to thank all his friends, and his teachers who put in the time to help him do well in his studies,” Donovan Wilson said.

Seth thanked his family as well as

Seth Wilson started his high school career at state power Akron St. VincentSt. Mary where he played two seasons for Dru Joyce II. Family members would drive him there and back every day from their home in Westlake, but the backand-forth proved to be exhausting. He started at St. V his freshman and sophomore years, helping the Irish to a state title his freshman year before transferring to Lorain for his junior and senior years. Wilson’s family is originally from Lorain and the family opted to move back to Lorain in part so Wilson could finish his high school career at Lorain High.

This year he was a Division I All-Ohio third team selection after averaging 23.3 points, 5.9 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.2 steals per game as Lorain advanced to the district final despite playing a rotation of at most seven players. He was also Lorain County’s Mr. Basketball.

Billings will attend Wooster to play basketball. The skinny 6-foot guard, who transferred to Lorain from Clearview after his 10th grade year, transformed himself into one the best defensive guards in Northeast Ohio. In one memorable performance he didn’t allow Garfield Heights’s highly touted point guard Sonny Johnson Jr., to score a point in Lorain’s district semifinal win. He and Wilson were one of the best backcourts in Northeast Ohio. Billings calling-card was his lockdown defense, but he also had a knack for hitting clutch jump shots. He finished the year averaging 14.2 points and 1.6 assists per game.

Williams, who will head to Wittenberg University, is a high jumper, runs on the 4x100 relay team and all the 300 hurdles. She’ll be the first in her family to attend college.

“It’s fun because you always fantasize being able to have a signing day, and be a senior and go off to college and it’s like everything is becoming a reality,” said Williams, who wants to major in business.

Hisle will attend Terra State Community College The 4-11 Hisle scored a career high 29 points and had a highgame of 23 in her senior year.