Region 9 athletes in Southern Utah take giant leap forward with college signings

Canyon View softball's Laynee Anzalone winds up to pitch at Dixie, Dixie High School, St. George, Utah, March 30, 2021 | File photo by Rich Allen, St. George News / Cedar City News

ST. GEORGE — Region 9 athletes are taking the next steps in their careers with commitments to colleges.

Isaac Finlinson signs his National Letter of Intent to play basketball at Dixie State University, Dixie High School, St. George, Utah, April 21, 2021 | File photo by Rich Allen, St. George News

Over the spring, nine athletes from five schools have signed letters of intent to play their sports at the next level. Their commitments span from staying home in St. George to traveling as far as Georgia. They include former regional MVPs, state champions and multi-sport stars.

As more athletes choose their schools over the next few weeks, St. George News will list them here. Please contact St. George News to include your student-athlete.

Here are the athletes moving on to play at the collegiate level from Region 9:

Canyon View

Jessica Davenport signed a letter of intent on April 19 to swim for Thomas University in Georgia. Although her top performances in high school were as a sprinter, specializing in the 50-meter and 100-meter races, she said she’s looking forward to contributing wherever she’s most needed.  Davenport said she plans to study clinical laboratory science. Canyon View swim coach Kirt Brown said he believes Davenport’s “willingness to work how hard she works” is what gives her great potential as a competitive college swimmer.

Laynee Anzalone signed a letter of intent on May 4 to play softball for the College of Southern Nevada. As the primary pitcher for the Falcons this season, Anzalone has an 11-3 record, all while driving in 25 runs and hitting five homers.

Flanked by her teammates, Canyon View pitcher Laynee Anzalone signs letter of intent to play softball for College of Southern Nevada, Cedar City, Utah, May 4, 2021 | Photo courtesy of Canyon View High Athletics, St. George News / Cedar City News

Addison Newman signed a letter of intent on May 19 to play basketball at Southern Virginia University. A four-year starting guard for the Falcons, Newman averaged 12.2 points, 4.2 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 3.3 steals per game during her senior season. Also a standout soccer forward for Canyon View, Newman said she is open to the idea of playing that sport at SVU if the opportunity arises.

Addison Newman of Canyon View signs a letter of intent to play basketball at Southern Virginia University, Cedar City, Utah, May 19, 2021 | Photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News

Cedar

Treyton Tebbs signed a letter of intent on May 11 to play basketball for Gordon College in Massachusetts. Tebbs, a 6-foot-1 sharpshooting guard, averaged 14.3 points per game his senior season, helping guide the Reds to the 4A state championship.

Treyton Tebbs of Cedar High School signs letter of intent to play basketball for Gordon College, Cedar City, Utah, May 11, 2021 | Photo courtesy of Cedar High Athletics, St. George News / Cedar City News

Desert Hills

Distance runner Madison Strasner signed on with Utah State for track and field/cross-country. She PR’ed her 3200-meter time on April 17 on her home track at the Desert Hills Invitational with a time of 11 minutes and 12.99 seconds, finishing third in the event. Her 11:18.68 at Snow Canyon on March 20 put her in second place, her highest finish of the season.

Carson Helmer heads to the University of Missouri, also for cross-country. Helmer’s 1:58.25 in the 800 on May 1 at Dixie placed him third in the competition, his highest finish of the season. He was also a runner-up at state in 2020.

Carson Helmer (left) and Madison Strasner (right) sign their collegiate letters of intent at Desert Hills High School, St. George, Utah, May, 2021 | Photo courtesy of Desert Hills High Athletics, St. George News

Dixie

Kylee Terrell, a two-way softball player anchored the circle and shortstop for the Flyers and is taking those talents to Southern Utah University. At the time of writing, Terrell has a .417 batting average and 8.81 ERA with one game down in the 4A state playoffs.

Isaac Finlinson stays in St. George after signing with Dixie State for basketball. Finlinson is a two-time Region 9 MVP and won the state championship with the Flyers in 2020. St. George News covered his signing in greater depth in this story.

Kylee Terrell, Snow Canyon softball at Dixie, Dixie High School, St. George, Utah, May 4, 2021 | File photo by Rich Allen, St. George News

Hurricane

Madisen Staples heads to Southern Virginia University for both soccer and basketball. She averaged 5.2 points a game with 4.7 rebounds for the Tigers in her senior season on the court and was first-team all-Region 9 in soccer in her senior season.

Madi Staples takes a free throw for Hurricane basketball vs. Stansbury, Steve Hodson Cancer Classic, Cedar City, Utah, Dec. 29, 2020 | File photo by Jeff Richards, St. George News / Cedar City News

Cedar City News reporter Jeff Richards contributed to this report.

Check back for updates.

Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2021, all rights reserved.

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