Two Highlanders sign letters of intent

By Sarah Brenden • November 20, 2018 3:36 pm
Photo courtesy Ken Matthews Madison Taylor, left, and Madison Kem celebrate signing their letters of intent Nov. 14 to play collegiate soccer.
Photo courtesy Ken Matthews Madison Taylor, left, and Madison Kem celebrate signing their letters of intent Nov. 14 to play collegiate soccer.

The first open day for high school student athletes to sign their letters of intent to play at the next level was Nov. 14.

Two Hazen Highlanders did not miss the chance to announce where they would be playing next year.

Both soccer players — Madison Kem signed her letter to Eastern Washington University and Madison Taylor signed her’s to University of Nevada Reno.

Hazen held a signing ceremony Nov. 14 for the two. Athletic Director and Assistant Principal Harland Warrior started the event off by addressing student athletes in attendance, a release from Hazen soccer stated.

“This is what all of you aspire to. It may come to you, but it won’t be easy. These two athletes did what it takes in-season and off-season to get to the next level. Their commitment, work and dedication got them there,” he said.

Kem and Taylor have both spent their four years at Hazen as varsity starters and were named to four all-league teams during their careers.

The release stated that both were team captains for this year’s squad.

“I routinely watch 8 th graders in their club games to see what we have coming in. Five years ago, I knew we had something special with these two,” coach Ken Matthews said in the release.

Matthews went on to describe both girls.

He said Kem could play any position and still dominate. He added, “her work ethic is second to none.”

When talking about Taylor, he said she owned the left side of the field for Hazen for the last four years.

A common theme between the two Madisons, according to Matthews were their desire to win.

He added, they wanted every drill to be perfect, they always wanted to finish first in conditioning and they were the vocal, demonstrative leaders a coach looks for.

Matthews ended the signing ceremony by congratulating their parents.

“I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the parents of these two girls. Nancy and Matt Kem and Ron and Michelle Taylor have been amazing in helping this program and providing the route to play in college. It brings to mind the saying the acorn doesn’t fall far from the oak tree. Thank you and congratulations,” Matthews said.